[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 P.M. 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.

[01:05] Speaker 1: (Instrumental music plays) Hey, good evening, friends. It's Monday night, and that's Raising Expectations, and we're so glad that you're here and a part of our family and part of our team. Uh, we, uh, we look forward to being with you every Monday night, and we've got a wonderful show coming for you tonight, all the way here from, uh, from this room. So (laughs) it's going to be with, uh, the next, uh, we think, great political leader helping us, uh, here in California, and that's Elizabeth Hollis. We're gonna talk about that in a minute. But those of you that may be tuning in, as you still let me know on texts quite often, uh, our team is a wonderful team. I'm ... I'll tell you, I'm so blessed. I'm Pastor Joe, and, uh, this is my wife, Melva, right here, my partner, and, uh, and we just, we're just blessed every week by the people that are part of the Raising Expectations team. So a quick run-by, just in case you don't know them, and we're going to start with Dr.

[02:16] Speaker 1: Paul Hall, and he's in Lompoc, California. They're in Southern California-

[02:20] Speaker 3: (clears throat)

[02:20] Speaker 1: And Paul is, uh, uh, a little under the weather, but feeling a little better, huh, Paul? How you doing?

[02:25] Speaker 3: I f- I feel great. Yeah. I'm good.

[02:27] Speaker 1: There you go.

[02:28] Speaker 3: (laughs)

[02:28] Speaker 1: We're rolling. We're good. Good to see you. He's there in California. He's a retired pastor. He's a, he's a counselor. He, he writes. He just ... He looks terrific. Somebody just called in to guest speaker and says he looks great. Um, that's terrific. All right, Paul. So-

[02:43] Speaker 3: (laughs)

[02:44] Speaker 1: ... (laughs) if we go to the, uh, to the East Coast, and Paul joins with us, we head back there to the East Coast, we get into the northern part there of Georgia, in Dalton, Georgia, and we have Dr. Craig Thayer and his wife that you'll see right there. And, uh, th- they're just ... We're gonna have a great time with Steph- Stephanie, we call her. And, uh, Stephanie and, uh, and, uh, Paul, they're there in Dalton, Georgia, just a, a small town that's north of Atlanta, doing a wonderful job there. Um, they're just, um, their, their boys just took off for college this year, and so they're, they're kind of slowing it down maybe (laughs) . I'm ... I don't know for sure. They have so many things going on. Not really. Uh, Stephanie there, on, on, on our left, she's a wonderful, a, a tremendous Godly couple.

[03:29] Speaker 1: She's a wonderful, Godly wife, her, her families, uh, her, her boys, her kids, especially how she helps people, and she has, uh, helped many, many women across this nation with questions they may have and just praying. She's a prayer warrior and, uh, she also has done an excellent job in (laughs) praying for and working with and producing this great guy on her left who is a surgeon.

[03:52] Speaker 3: (laughs)

[03:52] Speaker 1: And that's Dr. Craig Thayer.

[03:53] Speaker 3: Mm-hmm.

[03:54] Speaker 1: And, uh, sh- he is, uh, (laughs) he's a terrific guy too. I tell you what. He's a surgeon. He's also an author. His first book here is called Saved. Now I want to invite you very quickly to turn to our website, which is bbsradio.com/raisingexpectations. That's bbsradio.com/raisingexpectations. And there you see it. There is, uh, our website there. Of course, you see, uh, last week's guest, Gary, Gary, uh, Denise Gary Pandol, tremendous gal. She'll be with us again. Uh, a, a great political leader also. And, uh, you can read about the people on the program. You can check all of our shows, going on six years, and, uh, you'll be able to find out the different things that we've heard from all of them. Read about our people on the show and feel free to text them or talk to them and, uh, get to know them as part of our Raising Expectations team. You'll find two of our books there, also on the website. That's my book, Legitimate Faith: Producing Authentic Hope.

[04:52] Speaker 1: Uh, hope that, uh, th- that, that wins because God is driving the car. He takes care of you. Uh, somebody said, "I want God as my co-pilot," and I said, "I don't. I want Him driving." (laughs) And that's kind of what you're gonna find when you really look to Him this way. So, that book is there, but back to the Thayers, and right under me, neath me there, you'll find another great book. You know, one trauma surgeon's true account of the miracles of his life, and that book is called Saved. And that's God, uh, working in the life of Dr. Craig Thayer, finding God in the ordinary things of life. Craig is, uh, a very special guy. You'll want to read this book. Get a copy of it. It's right there. And read the story of what God has done in his life. He's the kind of surgeon that says, "Before I go into surgery, I always pray for God to use my hands, and you're in charge of what's going to be taking place next." These are great men of God and this wonderful lady of God. There's two of 'em.

[05:43] Speaker 1: One's my wife, and one is right there. You see Stephanie Thayer. And so, we ... This is our team tonight. Our other wonderful guy is, uh, not going to be with us tonight. He's the, he's going to be out of town, but that would be Ron Greer, and he is with Man in the Mirror and, uh, he's a counselor, pastor. He's done so many different things. You want to make sure that you check in with Ron and get to know him some also. So, that's our show for tonight. (coughs) As far as the team, excuse me. (coughs) Stephanie, this is for you. (coughs) Sorry about that.

[06:16] Speaker 1: (laughs)

[06:16] Speaker 4: Thank you so much for, uh-

[06:18] Speaker 1: Yeah.

[06:19] Speaker 4: ... joining with me.

[06:19] Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah.

[06:19] Speaker 1: Let me take the lead for you there. I know you won't feel bad.

[06:22] Speaker 5: Sorry to hear there.

[06:24] Speaker 4: All across the country, you too can be presidents.

[06:26] Speaker 1: (laughs) Yeah. Feel free to join in, right, Stu? Feel free to join in. Okay. (laughs) Well, we're excited tonight as we have such a great time as a family in Christ. If you know the Lord as your savior, you know we're all believers. And we believe the thing that gives us life every day that God is who He says He is, that He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, to come to Earth, die on the cross, live first so He could understand this, and then die on the cross to pay the price for our sins. We know that He's coming again someday, but in the meantime, in the time that we live right now, best of all, He's working in our lives. He raises not just your expectations, He raises and brings about results in your life as you put your faith and trust in Him. We hope you know Jesus.

[07:12] Speaker 1: If you ever have a question about that, text on our website, get a hold of us, let us know how we can pray for you, and we'd be glad to help you out that way and, uh, be a part, part of family with you like we are here. Hey, let's talk about tonight. We've got a great show coming for you. And as you know, we have Elizabeth Ahlers Ayres... Excuse me, Wong Ahlers. And, uh, Elizabeth, as I wrote this week, it went out, simply it says, we view she has unwavering values, profound wisdom. She has a loving family and a strong faith that's the catalyst for overcoming every challenge and bringing back the Golden State of California. Her visionary insights and innovative ideas are precisely what America and California need to thrive. Elizabeth possesses the message that can inspire a nation, but remember, you hold the vote power in your vote, and that's what matters. You need to get out there and vote. So as you listen to her tonight, we will give you places that you can find her.

[08:15] Speaker 1: And so, let's just hear a word from her in case you're tuning in tonight, uh, all the way from Texas or Southern California, wherever you might be, let's just tune in a little bit. There, here you find some of the information on her website. You wanna check this out. There's good things for, to know there about so many things. There's her, where you get a hold of her, and her website, and I believe our engineer also has her coming to you live right now.

[08:42] Speaker 6: Hi, I'm Elizabeth, a fifth-generation Californian. Born here, married here, raised and homeschooled 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.

[09:57] Speaker 1: There you go, ladies and gentlemen. So we want to welcome tonight, we want to stand with her, and we want you to vote for her, and that's Elizabeth Ahlers. Let's bring her in with a round of applause. Thanks for being here, Elizabeth. Tell us what's going on in your life. Tell us what's happening. Give us some insights from you, and we'll go from there.

[10:16] Speaker 6: Oh, good evening, everyone. Pastor Joe and the team, Paul, Melba, Stephanie, Dr. Thayer, I so much appreciate your support through this whole primary season. And I've got my husband, Ron, here always by me. So today is the, uh, official day that ballots dropped in California. The... And, but they came in even early Saturday, people were getting their ballots in the mail.

[10:47] Speaker 1: Wow.

[10:47] Speaker 6: So if you are in California, in, uh, Southern California, Los Angeles County, or you know people in the cities of, cities, areas of LA called Northridge, North Hills, Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Porter Ranch, Rocky Peak, and then up the 5 and 14 freeways to Santa Clarita, Castaic, Canyon Country, and those areas include Newhall, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch. If you know anybody in those areas, or if you live there, let them know my name's on the ballot, Elizabeth Wong Ahlers, and they have a choice of a Christian mom, grandma, that has s- experience in public service. I've served three years on our local council in La Crescenta. And, um, I've been working in the political system since, uh, 2018 as, all, all kind of volunteer positions in the party and as w- as, um, in clubs. And so, um, we are, we are experienced now, Ron.

[12:08] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[12:09] Speaker 1: (laughs) There you go.

[12:10] Speaker 6: And, um, we ran for State Senate in 2024. We did really well in the San Gabriel Valley.... um, and we are running for state assembly this year, right now. This is our primary election. So, we've got the mail-in ballots officially today, and then June 2nd is the last day to turn those ballots in or go vote in-person. So, we, we're still pounding the pavement for, um, the- the next three or four weeks, and, um, making phone calls. We're getting our texting system going, um, and we've got social media going. So, again, the- thanks for playing the video from the website.

[13:01] Speaker 6: So, if you want to see that wonderful video again-

[13:04] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[13:05] Speaker 6: ... go to elizabethforassembly.com, and then there's Elizabeth Wong Ahlers on all the social medias. And, um, yes, so there's still time to donate too, because every one of those, every $5.00 will cover one of those yard signs and, um, text messages and all those things to get the vote out. So, we need to be in the top two of this primary to have our name on the ballot in November. Um, so there are four candidates on the ballot, and, um, I'm the candidate of choice, so.

[13:50] Speaker 2: Amen. (laughs) That's right. Amen.

[13:54] Speaker 6: (laughs) Yeah. So, that- that's where we are today. Um, and we just... we appreciate all the prayers that have been prayed and the encouragement, um, through the months. Um, and the... it's so interesting. We have had, um, ups and downs, uh, just with... just within, um, (laughs) I don't know-

[14:21] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[14:21] Speaker 6: ... like, the- the local supporters and then the county party. So, um, but I think that God... I know God is... God works all things out for good to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. So, every time there's, there's drama, um, with endorsements and... Yes, Ryan keeps saying, "Drama, drama, drama."

[14:46] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[14:47] Speaker 6: Like, my phone was blowing up, you know, all weekend with, "Did you see what they put up out here?" Um, this... you know, the... So, um, but it seems like when, when the- the opponents are, uh, posting lies or the actual political operatives are, uh, putting out recommendations that don't align with actual endorsements, um, and there's conflicting messages going around. S- uh, it's been really encouraging that our, our people in the district have been rising up with, um, righteous anger and actually going to bat for me.

[15:43] Speaker 6: So- and, um, I had a call today from one of, one of the ladies that, from the first day she met me, she said, "I've been praying for a candidate like you."

[15:53] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[15:53] Speaker 6: She called me today, and, um, she said that she made a call to my campaign manager and said, "Hey, you guys don't have to fight back yourselves, because we... it's better if we, your constituents, fight for you and, um, let it be known what's happening." So, I'm really encouraged by that, and I've been thinking about, um, the proverb that s- that says, uh, "Let others speak your praise and not yourself," um, that there's more honor that way. And so, I've been finding that, that, um, prayers for that have been coming, coming just this weekend.

[16:40] Speaker 2: Amen.

[16:40] Speaker 6: Because a lot of... We've had to, uh, fight a lot, and, um, uh, the last debate was difficult because I had to bring in the, the lies of my opponents and be more negative that- than I naturally am. So, um, (laughs) it was... So, I felt like I, I couldn't really be myself, but I had to do that.

[17:04] Speaker 2: Yeah.

[17:05] Speaker 6: Um, but since then, others have been stepping up and they've been letting the word out about TRUTH on, on our behalf. So, I just continue to pray that, um, that word gets out to es- especially those that are in the churches. Um, we had a really... so much encouragement by a pastor, a local Baptist pastor, who wrote a letter to, uh, over 30 pastors in the area, um, telling them that he supports me, he encourages them to tell his congregations that there's a, a Christian representative that can be a voice for our values.

[17:54] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

[17:54] Speaker 6: And he added my, my resume, my Christian testimony for the, for the pastors to see. And, um, and then, and then he gave... he allowed me to share his letter with other pastors because... It's, it's hard for me as a political person to get the trust of pastors because they're, they're skeptical. Um, but when this pastor saw my written testimony, he said, "You, you have my heart, my full-hearted endorsement."

[18:27] Speaker 2: Amen.

[18:27] Speaker 6: And then, um...... he gives the letter to his own email list of pas- local pastors, that carries so much more weight than, than if I went to all those 30 churches and met those pastors myself. So that's something that pastors can do, um, to help true Christian candidates. And if any of those pastors happen to be listening, um, and pastors anywhere, even y- if you, you're a pastor anywhere in the world (laughs) -

[19:00] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[19:00] Speaker 6: ... you can se- send, uh, endorsement letters to the pastors in, um, in all those areas of Santa Clarita Valley and San Fernando Valley. Um, and, you know, we'll take support and encouragement from anywhere. So, yeah, that's so... But those are some of the things that God's been encouraging me with.

[19:23] Speaker 7: Amen.

[19:24] Speaker 6: Amen.

[19:26] Speaker 7: (laughs) Anybody have a, a question or thought or...?

[19:30] Speaker 2: Well, um, (clears throat) .

[19:33] Speaker 7: Yeah. Oh, uh, I'll, I'll chime in there.

[19:36] Speaker 2: Oh, oh sorry.

[19:36] Speaker 7: Go ahead, Tink, and then I'll follow.

[19:39] Speaker 2: You're first.

[19:40] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[19:40] Speaker 7: Okay. I, I did, uh, because I think, uh, California and other states have lost their common sense, you know what I mean? And then, so I did a little tracking today and a little preparation for our show tonight, and I ran across this guy named Thomas Paine. Have you ever heard of him?

[19:58] Speaker 6: Oh. (laughs)

[20:00] Speaker 7: Uh, he was around 1776, almost when I was born.

[20:04] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[20:05] Speaker 7: Um, but he wrote a little pamphlet called Common Sense.

[20:08] Speaker 6: Yes.

[20:09] Speaker 7: And, uh, it was in response to, uh, to the, that America or the colonies being free. And he said, in there he said, "It just makes common sense that we reject the monarchy, uh, that we have a republic under a written constitution that's limited to protect people's rights, and it should be written in plain language, and we should have plain language and reasoning in our government, and we should focus on practical government, uh, and the government should ensure our security with the least amount of cost." And I thought, "Gee, that makes a lot of sense." And so, uh, my question, you know, Elizabeth, as you go out there and you talk to people, um, d- is that one of the things that you really talk about? I mean, uh, one of the things, one of the subjects you broach, you know? This, this is just common sense, like the Save America Act, for example, you know what I mean?

[21:05] Speaker 6: Mm-hmm.

[21:05] Speaker 7: You have to prove you're a citizen and show identification. That's just common sense.

[21:09] Speaker 6: Right.

[21:09] Speaker 7: And so, so in your campaign, how do you approach things like that, if that makes any sense at all? (laughs) Okay.

[21:16] Speaker 6: Well, yeah, last weekend, we were at a home and garden show. We had a booth all Saturday, all Sunday, and, um, the local people from Santa Clarita were coming through with their families and their, their strollers. And, um, and so we had constant traffic by our booth, and I'd just go, go out, meet them, give the child a balloon with my logo on it, of course, and, and say, "Hey, we'd like to represent the families of Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys, because here's my husband and, um, we ha- we raised six children. We understand what it is to have to pay for gas and your car insurance, to, to, to just to get to work, and then the taxes once you work, and uh, paying for homes." And lots of people live in our area because th- because it's a little less expensive to, to own your own home and h- live in a quiet suburban area.

[22:20] Speaker 6: Um, San Fernando Valley's a little bit more expensive because it's closer to downtown, but the farther out you go, the more you have to drive, and, um, s- uh, commute, and that, just the cost of that. Um, so people underst- people understand that we, that we're running to represent them-

[22:43] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[22:43] Speaker 6: ... because we ha- we're living the, the lives that they're living, um-

[22:48] Speaker 7: Right.

[22:48] Speaker 6: ... and we all, we need a, we need a voice. So, so the government, um, is, the government needs to see that the money they're spending is our money. (laughs) It's not, it's not just, like, coming out of an endless, um, you know, um, I don't know, uh, imaginary balloon of, of funds that they can, um, have $100 billion of fraud for things that, that, um-

[23:25] Speaker 7: Yeah.

[23:25] Speaker 6: ... cannot be found, like the high-speed railway (laughs) , um, and these hospice places. So, I mean, that's just common sense. We have to, we have to run our government with, um, fiscal responsibility, like we run our families.

[23:40] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm. Amen.

[23:42] Speaker 6: Yeah.

[23:42] Speaker 7: Didn't Margaret Th- Margaret Thatcher say about that balloon? Something, she didn't use the term balloon, but I like yours, Elizabeth. (laughs) She said that, uh, "It's tough to be a socialist today, and it's okay, actually, if you wanna be a socialist, but the only difficulty is to be a socialist, you always run out of other people's money."

[23:59] Speaker 6: Right, right.

[24:00] Speaker 7: (laughs) And then what do you do? Right. Well, the reason I raise that, you know, common sense, I was looking at some of the Assembly bills that are, that are being considered in the Assembly. And for example, AB 1333, uh, making self-defense illegal. So therefore, you can take $950, and if I try to stop you and you try to hurt me and I defend myself, it's illegalI'll be arrested, you know, for ... That, that makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Common sense?

[24:33] Speaker 6: Yeah.

[24:34] Speaker 7: Another one, AB 1421, the mileage tax that you're, you're talking about, they figure that they can raise $900 to $1,200 annually, uh, from people who, who drive their cars, okay. Uh, and here's a good one, AB, uh, Bill 928. It's called the rooster fine. And the rooster fine is that you can't have more than three roosters per acre, uh-

[24:59] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[25:00] Speaker 7: ... because, yeah, because it's unfair to the animals. Hello?

[25:03] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[25:04] Speaker 7: Uh, another one, uh, AB 916, there's a ban on disinfectant hand soap, because they say it's not needed and etc., etc. And then, uh, I love this one. This is AB 666, okay? Check the numbers there.

[25:19] Speaker 6: Yeah. (laughs)

[25:20] Speaker 7: AB 666. And they wanna make Big Foot, as the California cryptid. Do you know what a cryptid is? I had to look it up. A cryptid is an animal whose existence is disputed.

[25:31] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[25:32] Speaker 7: So, therefore, I, I'm looking at the Assembly and I'm going ... And then, and then on top of this, we have our, I don't know if people around the world have heard of our Butterfly Bridge-

[25:42] Speaker 6: Yeah.

[25:42] Speaker 7: ... uh, which covers 10 lanes down in, uh, uh, I've forgotten where it is right now. But anyway, uh-

[25:48] Speaker 6: I think I do, yeah.

[25:48] Speaker 7: ... supposedly they've, they've spent $114 million to date, and the bridge is for cougar, you know, mountain lions and other animals to figure, "We need to cross the freeway, so we need a brid- Our, our folks said they need a bridge to do it." And so they built this bridge. Well, so far it's cost $114 million, and California government has, has kicked in $54 million in state funds, and it's years behind in completion and $21 million over budget. And I'm thinking wh- uh, when you go ... Uh, boy, when you get elected, Elizabeth, are you gonna have a fight on your hands. Uh, because an- and I wanna throw it in this arena, because I certainly do believe that this is spiritual warfare.

[26:33] Speaker 7: I mean-

[26:33] Speaker 6: Yes, it is.

[26:34] Speaker 7: ... it, it truly is.

[26:35] Speaker 6: Mm-hmm.

[26:36] Speaker 7: And pray for your protection and that you have wisdom and to speak the truth in love. That's, that's hard to do, given some of the things that, you know, going on. And so I, I looked at this and I go, "Wow, Elizabeth, you know, (laughs) a- and Ron, boy, you're gonna ... You, Ron, you're gonna need to support her while she gets beat up, uh, because it's, it's, it's a mess." And in terms of just common sense, just common sense, and, uh, to get the government off of our backs, wouldn't that be nice? I mean, I've, I've heard that. Maybe that makes common sense, uh, to lower the regulations, and I'm gonna have to sell one of my roosters, and that just really makes me mad.

[27:14] Speaker 6: It does. (laughs) That's, that's bad. (laughs)

[27:17] Speaker 7: I, I'm just, I'm kidding about the roosters. Uh, the people who live behind us have a rooster.

[27:22] Speaker 6: (laughs) Yeah.

[27:22] Speaker 7: Um, that's against, that's against city code, but crow all you want, rooster. You know, that's, you know, that's a cry of freedom, so. (laughs)

[27:32] Speaker 6: Yeah. That's right.

[27:32] Speaker 7: Anyway-

[27:32] Speaker 6: That's right.

[27:32] Speaker 7: I didn't mean to dominate. I just, I just think that as we throw it in the arena of common sense, uh-

[27:38] Speaker 6: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

[27:38] Speaker 7: Apparently a lot of our legislators don't have much common sense. I mean-

[27:43] Speaker 6: Right.

[27:43] Speaker 7: ... why are you spending time dealing with these kind of things? Let's deal with some issues, you know what I mean?

[27:47] Speaker 6: Amen. That's right, Paul. Yeah. So yeah, these peoples don't seem to live in reality, and a lot of them, a lot of the, uh, legislators don't have their own children. They don't have their own families

[28:01] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[28:01] Speaker 6: They don't own their own properties. So they don't, they don't feel, uh, what we, what we normal family people need. Um, and so some of it, a lot of it, is, is education. Um, the ... So the current incumbent in District 40 here, uh, she, her ... She's famous for the bill that she put forward to eliminate homework.

[28:31] Speaker 7: Well, there you go.

[28:32] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[28:32] Speaker 7: Uh-huh.

[28:33] Speaker 6: So she feels that children have too much stress in their lives, so they should have no homework. Um, so there's a common sense bill for you. Um, but there are some common sense bills that are being put forward in California legislature that I, that I do support, and I hope that, um, they can get some of the Democrats to support some common sense and get these through. Um, one is SCA1, which is, um, a school choice flexible account. So I, uh, we spend about $17,000 per student here in California, and if that money could be put into a c- family accounts for the child's school, the family can choose, uh, where to use it. So it could be used for a, a private school or a home school, a charter school. Um, if they don't, if they don't need to use it all, it rolls over and saves for higher education. So that's a common sense thing, and I know it's worked well in Arizona. Uh, we have ...

[29:46] Speaker 6: Um, I was talking to some friends that are able to support their grandchild's schooling u- um, using these educational accounts. So there's some good common sense things, and then, and there's other, other ones that we ... You know, sometimes we take common sense for granted, and, and then when crazy things happen, then we realize, "Oh my goodness, do we actually need to write a law for this?" So we need, we need to have laws that require parental notification if the child, um, is gender confused or, um, wanting hormone treatments, uh, those extreme kind of things. But now we actually need to implement some common sense laws and enforce it in California schools.

[30:36] Speaker 7: Yes.

[30:36] Speaker 6: Um-

[30:37] Speaker 8: I have, I have something controversial, Paul. I'm not sure if you're gonna like this or not like this.

[30:42] Speaker 2: But I think we'll-

[30:43] Speaker 8: But it is wild though-

[30:44] Speaker 2: I'm sorry.

[30:44] Speaker 8: ... if Bigfoot or Sasquatch, as he is lovingly known here-

[30:49] Speaker 5: Debbie, Debbie.

[30:49] Speaker 8: If the person exists, he would be in Appalachia, so it's not gonna work.

[30:53] Speaker 2: Here we go.

[30:54] Speaker 8: California-

[30:54] Speaker 2: That's right.

[30:55] Speaker 8: There is-

[30:55] Speaker 2: We're wasting time. (laughs)

[30:57] Speaker 5: Don't need no grizzlies when your state puts this on your flag.

[31:01] Speaker 8: Sasquatch is everywhere here, it's so funny. But-

[31:03] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[31:04] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[31:04] Speaker 8: ... more serious news-

[31:05] Speaker 2: Yeah.

[31:06] Speaker 8: Um, Elizabeth, I kinda chuckle at your campaign video, because I get what you're saying, like you're relatable, and you're just a regular mama, but the reality is you are not. You had six children-

[31:17] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[31:18] Speaker 8: ... which in of itself is a feat.

[31:19] Speaker 6: It's a miracle. Yeah.

[31:20] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[31:20] Speaker 8: Also made that decision to home school them, and my guess is you got there in a similar way that I did, which is that that school s- system did not support what your kids needed, and the education system says that every child is entitled to a good quality education. So you've already mentioned some of these things about, you know, we have identity issues and kids with bathrooms, and all these things, and even, um, someone very close to me had said, ah, who is not conservative like I am, (laughs) said, "I'm just so frustrated that my children are having all of this political stuff shoved down their throat, and they're just there to learn.

[31:58] Speaker 8: And when we were kids we were just there to learn."

[32:01] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

[32:01] Speaker 8: And I, you know, this, I didn't know that there was this school choice, um, flex account idea, but I can tell you after moving to the South, we had no idea. We paid for all of our kids to go to school. We, you know, home schooled, the whole thing, and college. Um, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida all have similar programs that are a little bit different, that, that use different types of funding. In Georgia, it happens to be the lottery. The kids that have decent grades do not pay at all for their college education.

[32:32] Speaker 6: Mm-hmm.

[32:33] Speaker 8: There are funds if you've been in the public school, to leverage it for a private school, a certain portion. Florida is more generous. Like, they're all a little bit different, but what happens when we have competition would drastically change, and what I don't like about the current public system is that it basically, if you're in an affluent area, you have a great school. You happen to have more parents that are involved, there's more tax money that goes there. If you're not, your kids are really stuck, and so it actually is a socio, socioeconomic conversation that should be happening, that a lot of people in the lower economic districts don't want to see or address, or they're just believing what they're told, but it's actually keeping the impoverished, impoverished.

[33:17] Speaker 6: Right.

[33:18] Speaker 8: How beautiful would it be if we could have folks voting for things like this to allow everyone to be on a, not just an equal playing field, but you as a family get to decide what's the right choice for your child, because every child is different, right?

[33:34] Speaker 6: Right. Yeah, and that is an excellent point, Stephanie, that, that the, that the advantage to these voucher programs or savings accounts is really for the lower income families, and those that live in areas where the schools, um, are m- a lot more trouble. Um, and that's, that's an excellent point because, and it needs, somehow we need to get the word out to those parents that this is, this is an idea that will really help them. And they, they if, I'd love to see, I'd love to see the, these areas in schools or- organize parental meetings and gather a movement to get these things passed. So, um, because really, it is for, it is for those, because our public school, our public school monies are, are really so that every family and every child can be well educated, um, but the competition and the choice is really important.

[34:42] Speaker 2: Hmm. Amen.

[34:44] Speaker 6: Yeah.

[34:45] Speaker 8: So back to the, "I'm just a normal person," then you casually say, "And I have a PhD-"

[34:51] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[34:51] Speaker 8: ... "and I've been very involved in the community."

[34:53] Speaker 2: Yeah.

[34:53] Speaker 8: And I just giggle 'cause I'm like-

[34:55] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[34:56] Speaker 8: ... oh, yes.

[34:56] Speaker 2: Really.

[34:57] Speaker 8: Just so you know.

[34:58] Speaker 2: Yeah.

[34:58] Speaker 8: In a good way. (laughs)

[35:01] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[35:01] Speaker 6: Oh, thanks, Stephanie. Well, you know, and I, I think, um, 'cause I just think of myself as, as, as Mom, and, um, and that-

[35:11] Speaker 8: Anybody. (laughs)

[35:12] Speaker 6: ... b- you know, I'm not, I'm not a career politician, but then I have to, I have to remind myself that the Lord has given me a lot of life experience that qualifies me.

[35:24] Speaker 2: Amen.

[35:24] Speaker 6: And so, so in my own thinking, it's like, like I tell myself, "Don't be intimidated by these people because I'm probably smarter than they are." (laughs)

[35:34] Speaker 2: That's it. That's it.

[35:36] Speaker 6: "Don't be intimidated by these people because I've lived a lot more than they have, experienced a lot more than they have." If they've only been in, in the government sector since they graduated from, from college in poli sci and interned here and there, and, um, never had a real life, um, they're, you know, I am high, more highly qualified than they are.

[36:00] Speaker 2: Amen.

[36:00] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[36:01] Speaker 8: Or high school for you. I mean, I don't know what you do, but-

[36:03] Speaker 6: Every, uh-huh, if we look at California and the super majority that's been there since, what, 1990s? (laughs)

[36:11] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

[36:11] Speaker 6: Then, um, you know, it's those people that have put California in the, in the dump.

[36:17] Speaker 2: Yes.

[36:17] Speaker 6: So, um, we, yeah, but I, I was, had a really interesting conversation with former Assemblywoman Paula Bowlin, she's in her 80s now, and she used to represent the district that I'm running in. Um, and she said that it was term limits, um, that-... that... Right? It was term limits that changed the kind of person that made up the legislative people. So the... So before term limits, it c- um, you didn't have a, you know, a 20-something person that rose up to Chief of Staff and then, and then got into the elected seat. It was people coming out of, um, businesses and real life. It was retired people that could... that had life experience and financial wisdom that, that would go into public service. Um, and it was also due to making the position full-time and... instead of part-time. It used to be that, um, a public servant, elected official, was elected for a part-time position and then they go back to their business. Um, so, so we get a different quality of person because of...

[37:47] Speaker 6: interestingly, because of the term limits and the full-time job instead of service.

[37:56] Speaker 1: Hmm.

[37:57] Speaker 9: And it's also, you have a number of candidates now who win their office, and this is the best job they've ever had.

[38:07] Speaker 1: Yes.

[38:08] Speaker 6: Mm-hmm.

[38:08] Speaker 9: So it's their highest paying job with the highest benefits, and that should not be the case.

[38:15] Speaker 6: Right.

[38:15] Speaker 9: Your government service should be a service to the community. You should get compensated, as Elizabeth said, but, for example, the State Assembly and the State Senator, so there's 120 of them in, in California, their base salary is about 11 and a half thousand, so $11,500 per month plus extremely good benefits on, on top of that. And, like I said, this is their best job that they've ever had. So they don't have the life experience.

[38:53] Speaker 9: They don't know what it takes to tighten a budget, to make sure-

[38:57] Speaker 1: Exactly.

[38:57] Speaker 9: ... they pay for food and the mortgage and-

[39:00] Speaker 1: Sure.

[39:01] Speaker 9: ... taxes and the car and, and then the kids get to be teenagers and you gotta get another car or figure out how to swing insurance or what, or what have you. And, and you have 20-somethings and 30-somethings that rent, and they're up in Sacramento making decisions about farmland, about roosters-

[39:22] Speaker 1: Yeah.

[39:22] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[39:23] Speaker 9: ... and have no concept of what a farmer does with water, fertilizer, food, taking care of animals-

[39:32] Speaker 1: Yeah.

[39:32] Speaker 9: ... husbandry, dealing with the runoff of the soil, all of that-

[39:37] Speaker 6: Water.

[39:37] Speaker 9: ... they have no concept.

[39:39] Speaker 6: Yeah.

[39:39] Speaker 1: Good point. Yeah. Good point. Part of that problem, too, is those people don't have the least desire to learn or care and understand.

[39:50] Speaker 6: Ah.

[39:50] Speaker 1: They're happy where they are. They're leading. Nobody can say anything about it. And part of the gift of being a real leader is to sometimes be quiet and learn. That old saying when you were little. "When my mouth is open, I hear what I already know. But when my mouth is shut, I may hear something I don't know and learn something."

[40:08] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[40:08] Speaker 1: They don't care.

[40:09] Speaker 6: Yeah. Yeah. I've had a really great last week. Um, I had some appointments learning. Um, I, I met with the local water, water agency, um, the local water agency member, and he gave me a great education on California water. He's been, he's been on... in the agency for decades, and, uh, worked, worked all his career with metropolitan, uh, water here, and bringing water to Southern California. And then, um, and then I met with the... a guy who specializes in energy, and then I met with a, a, a guy who's worked with the waste industry, and we're talking about the local landfill got closed because, uh, there's these underground fires going on and the, um, the... it's smelling terrible.

[41:04] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[41:05] Speaker 1: Oh.

[41:06] Speaker 6: So, yeah. So I really look forward and enjoy. Um, I'm not the expert in everything, but I, but I am smart enough to learn and listen and to inquire. And I ask these people, um, "What do you s- ... what do you think is the most common sense solution to what we're challenged with in these areas?" And, you know, p-... everybody that h-... has their own niche where they're a specialist and, um, it's, it's mining those treasures and find-... and that we really could have common sense solutions.

[41:48] Speaker 1: Yes.

[41:48] Speaker 6: Um, so yeah, I lo-... Yeah. I think I do better listening and processing and then putting things together, actually, than, than doing the public speaking. (laughs)

[42:01] Speaker 1: (laughs) Amen. There you go.

[42:04] Speaker 6: Yeah. But I've en-... I've really... uh, that's been part of the campaign that I've really enjoyed, is listening and learning, and, um... Um, yeah. So any of... any of you anywhere that have, uh, great ideas, we need, we need to do something different, because what we're doing is not working.

[42:24] Speaker 1: Amen. (laughs) Amen. That's right. Amen. Greg

[42:28] Speaker 5: Yeah.

[42:28] Speaker 1: Yeah.

[42:28] Speaker 5: Probably hit a little bit ago when you're... when you were describing talking about people running against you. It, it just demonstrates your humility. And like what Steph said, you know, you're, you're discrediting (laughs) yourself when you have these credentials, right? So you're an awesome person, number one. Number two-

[42:48] Speaker 2: You know, leadership, probably one of the strongest things and one of the hardest things is accountability, right? So, you're holding those other people accountable by telling the truth. And my point, I wish Ron Greer was here 'cause I've talked about Talarico in Texas before 'cause he's Christian but he's progressive Christian, and has a whole bunch of stuff that twists, takes 98.5% of Christianity and then twists it into something that's not.

[43:17] Speaker 2: So-

[43:18] Speaker 4: (laughs)

[43:19] Speaker 2: ... you gotta bring the truth and you also have to bring love, right? So, it's hard. And that's the accountability thing. But, um, and I see you trying to do that, and that's good. So, um, just giving you kudos for the challenge ............................

[43:34] Speaker 4: Thank you.

[43:37] Speaker 6: Yes, thank you. Thank you, Craig. Um, yeah, I, you know (laughs) as a, as a Christian missionary minister (laughs) , I, I look at my opponents and my heart immediately can... kind of can see their personal insecurities (laughs) . And, and I, I just, I feel, you know, I just want to be their friend. (laughs)

[44:03] Speaker 4: (laughs)

[44:03] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[44:03] Speaker 6: But, but I've, you know, in s-... in this, in this context, I have to, like, um, show their flaws. I have to expose their lies. I have to, um, i- tell, and then I have to make it public. (laughs)

[44:21] Speaker 4: Yeah.

[44:22] Speaker 6: And so, but it really is an, uh, an important part of, (sighs) um, integrity and leadership that I, I think, I think we Christians have to grow into, um, in order to-

[44:41] Speaker 4: Hmm.

[44:41] Speaker 6: ... lead the, in-... lead the culture. Um, and we, we see that in churches, too. That, um, sometimes the s- sins need to be confronted, um, so that the, uh, the people are not victims of, you know, uh, bad behavior. Um, but-

[45:01] Speaker 4: Well, it's an opportunity for them to see the other side of that coin.

[45:04] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

[45:05] Speaker 4: You know? This is what you've been hearing for the last eight years. This is what I'm telling you it's gonna be for the next eight years. You know? So, giving them that positive reinforcement that allows them to think outside of the Democrat mindset, because that's what they've been listening to.

[45:24] Speaker 2: Yes.

[45:24] Speaker 4: So, you're gonna be there.

[45:26] Speaker 2: (laughs) Amen.

[45:27] Speaker 4: I just know you're gonna be there.

[45:29] Speaker 2: Amen.

[45:29] Speaker 6: So, that-

[45:30] Speaker 2: Yeah. I think, I think you're uniquely qualified-

[45:33] Speaker 4: Mm-hmm.

[45:34] Speaker 2: ... because of your humility and the way you, you appear, are-

[45:38] Speaker 4: Mm-hmm.

[45:38] Speaker 2: ... it's not, it's not a non-truth. Y-... there's no lie about you, that you can bargain these things. I think in other political arenas where no one can trust the other politicians, and I think, speaking for Ron Greer, this is where the American church needs to step up. Because, if there are... a-... a lot of politicians are not trusted, and to argue with someone that's arguing about someone's Christianity is gonna be tough from a poli- politician's view. That's where the ch- churches need to step up and say, "Yeah, this is not truth. Whatever they're speaking is not truth." Amen. It, they spend too much time trying to win an argument rather than solve a problem. And I don't care if they wanna join together or do it on their own. However, they get to the place with truth and, like you're saying, common sense, rather than feeling everybody's attacking them like some of them are, and Elizabeth, you handle that so well, you and Ron. They need to stop that.

[46:36] Speaker 2: Put that creative energy into coming up with an idea that solves a problem. But then, we're back to square one with the roosters let off, because they're happy, like you said, Ron. They don't care. What do they need to solve it for? They've got everybody, like the baited fish on the hook. They just follow along. They don't know. But the tru-... "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Where did I hear that somewhere (laughs) ? They don't wanna know, but you all know. And, and God... You're giving the truth out. Elizabeth, anybody that would have trouble and get angry or frustrated with you when you share and talk, their problem's not with you, it's with themself and they can't figure out what they believe and they're mad that you don't agree with what they don't understand that they do believe, so there's a problem. Did I say that right?

[47:22] Speaker 2: (laughs (laughs)

[47:22] Speaker 4: (laughs) Sorry

[47:23] Speaker 2: Let's go Ron. (laughs)

[47:24] Speaker 4: Can you repeat that?

[47:25] Speaker 6: Oh.

[47:27] Speaker 2: Let's go.

[47:27] Speaker 4: Yes.

[47:29] Speaker 6: Something I've observed is that the, the... well, I'm calling them political operatives, but, um, they're, they're sort of the people that have fun, um, arguing, debating. Um, they're alway-... they're very informed on all the issues, um, they, they are all over the social media, you know. So, so, there's, there's those and they all, they all tend to want to see me fight.

[48:00] Speaker 2: Right.

[48:00] Speaker 6: They want, they want, they want, uh, you know, another... I don't know if they want to... me to be President Trump 'cause-

[48:07] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[48:07] Speaker 6: ... you know, I mean, he's a, he's... he fights in a, and to me, it's an entertaining way, you know? But-

[48:12] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[48:12] Speaker 6: Because he's just being him, you know? But, so, sometimes I feel like these, these very politically involved people, that, that's what they want to see in their candidate.

[48:22] Speaker 4: Mm-hmm.

[48:23] Speaker 6: Um, at least on the Republican side. But the ev-... but the everyday people, you know, when I'm door knocking and such, you know, they, they, they want someone that they c-... um, they know is listening to them, that they're... they can trust, um, and, and then... Ah, see, I'm kind of losing my train of thought again but (laughs) ... but I... Oh, so being a candidate?... is one thing. It's hard, because people want the candidate sometimes to be, to be like a President Trump, you know, or a, you know, just real- really tough that way. And you k- you can beat up and make fun of, uh, your opponents. But when I get into the seat in Sacramento, and, you know, if we don't break the super majority this, this election, there, there's got to be, like a, a interpersonal interaction with the, um, with the Democrats to get some of these solutions, common sense, in there and passed.

[49:30] Speaker 6: Um, and, uh, Senator Shannon Grove has been one of my examples that she, she works with what I would consider the worst with them... the worst of them.

[49:41] Speaker 8: (laughs)

[49:41] Speaker 6: But she keeps a personal, uh, relationship with them. And, um, in an, in an effort to get things done, and at least to influence the oth- those Assembly members that may be proposing, you know, what we would consider horrendous bills-

[50:02] Speaker 8: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm

[50:02] Speaker 6: Not just ridiculous, uh, Big Foot bi- or rooster bills, but actually very harmful, dangerous bills.

[50:10] Speaker 8: Mm-hmm.

[50:10] Speaker 6: Um, she kee- she keeps a personal relationship with them, as a Christian, um, and-

[50:17] Speaker 8: And has influence.

[50:18] Speaker 6: And has influence with them.

[50:21] Speaker 3: Yes, yes.

[50:21] Speaker 8: Mm-hmm, good.

[50:22] Speaker 6: So that-

[50:22] Speaker 3: Well, our pre- our president says it one way, but I think you're kind of like Abraham Lincoln.

[50:27] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[50:28] Speaker 8: (laughs)

[50:29] Speaker 3: He always got it done, but he was so quick with the loving response, and with the words that turned somebody inside out, particularly on his first great debate. The best debater in the nation ended up going away, what did he say?

[50:42] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[50:42] Speaker 3: You know? So you know, stay where you are. You're right in the right spot. And the president-

[50:49] Speaker 8: Go ahead, Ron. President Trump is more like Elijah

[50:52] Speaker 3: Yeah, there you go. (laughs)

[50:54] Speaker 6: Yeah.

[50:54] Speaker 8: Yeah, yeah. That too.

[50:55] Speaker 6: Yes.

[50:56] Speaker 8: Maybe he is.

[50:56] Speaker 3: Everybody has a call. (laughs)

[50:59] Speaker 8: And-

[50:59] Speaker 4: Or Peter.

[51:00] Speaker 8: Elizabeth, when you-

[51:01] Speaker 4: Yeah.

[51:03] Speaker 3: Everybody has a call.

[51:04] Speaker 8: ... the debate, you know, they want the argument. Made me think, 'cause I used to teach speech and debate to the kids.

[51:09] Speaker 6: Mm-hmm.

[51:09] Speaker 8: And, uh, one of my favorite debates is Nixon and Kennedy. And they were very opposed, but they were so considerate of one another. And it was like, "Thank you, but I disagree." And we just, we've gotten so far away from that. And one of the things that I think is really beautiful about your disposition, you have this genuineness about you, where, like, Trump is who Trump is. That is not who you are nor who you ever should be. And I think that, um, you know, the way of the world is, like, control. And the way of Jesus is flipping everything upside down, right? And so, he's saying, "We're gonna serve." And that really is who you are. You are demonstrating that. And how fortunate will your area be to have you serving them? And so, I just think that you have so much favor from the Lord, and who you are shines in it is hard. I am not a confrontational person either, but it's okay to say the truth and then step back and still love them, right?

[52:09] Speaker 8: Which is what you were saying about this Shannon Grove person. Like, that is who you are. And so, don't... You do not have to change who you are. Right. Amen

[52:18] Speaker 6: Um, thank you, Stephanie. Thank you.

[52:20] Speaker 3: Yeah. Certainly takes all kinds, doesn't it?

[52:23] Speaker 8: (laughs)

[52:23] Speaker 3: And everybody, every Christian has the, you know, a, a, a different set of gifts, uh, to be used for His glory, you know, for our good. And, uh, to not be afraid, you know. I've never been like, you know, David, who, uh, looked at Goliath and said, "Listen, you uncircumcised Philistine. I'm gonna cut your head off, you know, and feed it to the birds." Uh, I... That'd be a good way to introduce yourself, Elizabeth, you know, when you, you take your seat.

[52:49] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[52:50] Speaker 3: Um, but you know, I- I know that, I know that there are other Christians, uh, in the Assembly, you know, people who, people who do love the Lord. And so much, I think, of building the team of, of linking up, finding one another, encouraging each other, you know.

[53:07] Speaker 6: Yes.

[53:07] Speaker 3: I think that's so important. We just don't, we don't hear that side of the news. We ju- we ju- we don't hear that. And that's unfortunate. So, when you send out your newsletters, uh, to everyone, and those of us on your team here, uh, even in Georgia, you know, uh, it'd be good to, who are these people, so we can pray for them and, and hold them up, you know?

[53:28] Speaker 8: Yes.

[53:29] Speaker 3: I just think that's good stuff, you know.

[53:31] Speaker 6: Yes. That's a good... No, it's really important. Um, and I heard, uh, last fall, (clears throat) excuse me, that the Assembly members in Sacramento on the Republican side, they started meeting for prayer every Monday before they went to the floor.

[53:53] Speaker 8: Wow.

[53:53] Speaker 6: And it, it, this is the first time that they've done that together.

[53:57] Speaker 3: Amen.

[53:57] Speaker 6: So, so God is moving in the California Assembly, at least on the Republican side. And we, and we're praying for the other side too. Um, that would be, that would be awesome if they, if, if the Democrat Assembly members would start-

[54:14] Speaker 3: Would pray.

[54:14] Speaker 6: ... praying about what they're doing. (laughs)

[54:17] Speaker 3: Amen.

[54:17] Speaker 8: Exactly.

[54:18] Speaker 6: Wow.

[54:19] Speaker 3: Eh- I gotta remember the one thing. You guys will remember this, but one of my favorites is CS Lewis. And you all have studied him, but he had a book called God in the Dock. And it said exactly what you're going to do in light of what Steph and Paul and everybody's been saying. It just kept burning in me. He said when he was a young boy in England, everything was pretty crowded. But he ended up in a, um, he went back in the back of the woodshed behind the house, in the narrow little yards, kind of like California track development now. But anyway, he went into that small develop- that small home, uh, into the, the, the little shed.

[54:52] Speaker 3: And he went in there looking for something, and the wind blew the shed door, bam, closed behind him-

[54:58] Speaker 1: ... and all of a sudden, it was pitch black. He absolutely was terrified for a moment when he saw that. And all of a sudden, his eyes, as he explains it, were even looking up. He looked up, without even moving, he looked up, and up in the corner by the 15-foot shed, the old wood carved shed, it was pitch black, but one little beam, there was a crack in the wood, and one little beam came down. And it was real small at the top, got bigger and bigger as it came down, and it hit him right in the chest. (laughs) And he, and he looked, he stepped back and looked at the light, and he was reminded that light always overcomes darkness. Even if it's a little crack of light when you start, it's gonna flood. Through the prayers, through the things of your friends, the things we've been sharing, we know, uh, God's gonna use you in a powerful way. And that little light of mine, you're gonna let it shine, like the song says. It's gonna be really, really great.

[55:56] Speaker 6: Amen. Yeah. Ron and I just, uh, remind each other every time we go to a meeting, even if it's with the, the friendly people, um, that we are the light of the world there because, because they, they don't all know. They don't all know.

[56:13] Speaker 1: They don't know.

[56:14] Speaker 6: Uh-huh. And, um, sometimes, you know, they're, they're very... They could be on our side politically but, but they've got, uh, bitterness and, uh, fear and anger because of what they see going on. And we can bring in a light to them that still has hope and joy-

[56:36] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[56:36] Speaker 6: ... in spite of how bad things are. (laughs) You know?

[56:39] Speaker 1: That's right. (laughs)

[56:39] Speaker 6: Like, oh, really? U- um, oh, it's, it's, it's God's light that, um, enables us to, to do what we're doing without becoming bitter and angry and depressed. (laughs)

[56:55] Speaker 1: Yeah.

[56:55] Speaker 6: Uh, and, and it, and that's the only way we can keep moving forward. We have to go forward with the joy of the Lord and, and the hope and the knowledge and the confidence that, yes, the light of the Lord is in us and it... And so, it's shining everywhere that we go, whatever the context is. And we're in all kinds of meetings, all kinds of groups, all kinds of contexts, trying, trying to get, trying to get my name known on the ballot, but it's really about His name.

[57:29] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm. Amen. That's somebody I wanna vote for. How about you all? (laughs) Amen.

[57:35] Speaker 6: Yeah. And as-

[57:37] Speaker 1: I see.

[57:37] Speaker 6: ... as Paul was talking about the, uh, about Thomas Paine and the Constitution, I was reminded about our California constitution. And, um, I like to read this in some of the meetings I'm in. So, I'm gonna read you some of our California constitution. And listen, listen to the phrases that, um, are really, um, our favorite, our favorite themes, um, as Americans. And it's actually in our con- California constitution.

[58:12] Speaker 6: So here's from-

[58:13] Speaker 1: Wow.

[58:13] Speaker 6: ... the preamble. So it starts with, "We the people."

[58:18] Speaker 1: (laughs)

[58:19] Speaker 6: So this, there's a phrase, uh, that, as, as Americans, we love that. And so, that's at the beginning of our California constitution. "We the people of the state of California..." And now this next phrase, "Grateful to Almighty God."

[58:34] Speaker 1: That's wonderful.

[58:34] Speaker 6: Right there in our constitution, Almighty God, and we're grateful.

[58:39] Speaker 1: Yeah.

[58:39] Speaker 6: "We're grateful to Almighty God for our freedom in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution." So, there, right in the preamble, "We the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, and then, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution." The trend has been in California lately, with the super majority, to chip away at our freedoms.

[59:14] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm. Yes.

[59:15] Speaker 6: Um, but so far, we still have it in our California constitution, and we need to s- uh, secure and perpetuate its blessings. Okay, here's Article One, Section One. "All people are by nature free and independent, and have inalienable rights." By nature. Among these inalienable rights are enjoying and defending life and liberty.

[59:51] Speaker 1: Amen.

[59:52] Speaker 6: Acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety, happiness and privacy. So the words that stand out to me there, it's free, independent, inalienable rights from God, um, and then life, liberty, and then private property. So I, so we-

[01:00:19] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[01:00:19] Speaker 6: ... we're trying to get on the ballot in November a Save Proposition 13 petition-

[01:00:26] Speaker 1: Yes. Right.

[01:00:27] Speaker 6: ... uh, to protect our private property, and that is a constitutional element that we can acquire, possess and protect our property.

[01:00:38] Speaker 1: Yeah.

[01:00:38] Speaker 6: And so, there's our, uh, Second Amendment in our California constitution too, if we can protect it. And pursuing and obtaining safety. So, there's our public safety. Happiness, um, so I automatically think of children and education with happiness, and, uh, privacy. Um, so-Then, we've got Article II, and this is the last part that I, that I really like to, uh, read with people is, "All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection..." So there's the number one public safety issue again and the role of government, "...protection, security and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require." So, um, there's our California Constitution.

[01:01:39] Speaker 6: And-

[01:01:40] Speaker 1: Okay.

[01:01:40] Speaker 6: ... so we would like to, uh, we just like to remind ourselves and remind our people that in California, it's we the people, and, and freedom and independence and private property, protection, security. These are all the things that our government should be providing for, um, all of us. Christians and families, and, um, not just illegals. (laughs)

[01:02:11] Speaker 1: (laughs) Amen. There you go. Amen. Well, that's interesting. Anybody else? I think you got them, Elizabeth. They're- (laughs ... thinking, "When do the wheels, when do the wheels turn? When are we going? Done. Yeah. Yeah. I have never read the California Constitution, and I wrote here, like, "Wow, the Cali Constitution starts with the people and goes to God." That's my note, like- (laughs)

[01:02:34] Speaker 10: ... I've never taken the time to read it.

[01:02:37] Speaker 1: That's a good idea.

[01:02:37] Speaker 6: Oh, and speaking of being grateful to Almighty God, there are two bill... Well, there's a bill going forward in California to, um, have Muslim holidays instituted-

[01:02:52] Speaker 7: Oh, yeah, on the calendar.

[01:02:54] Speaker 6: ... into, into... Yeah, into our calendar, into our, our, uh, civic calendar for, for holidays and, uh, work holidays, school holidays. So we're, we, we, we don't want that. As Paul was saying, that's a spiritual battle. And this-

[01:03:12] Speaker 1: Yes.

[01:03:13] Speaker 6: ... this is a manifestation of the spiritual battle that, um, we, uh, don't wanna see.

[01:03:21] Speaker 1: That's right. That's right. Denise Terry Pendall wrote a terrific article for that. It wasn't Townhall Magazine. It was another one that, uh, we shared with some folks. And she's right there with you, Elizabeth, sharing right on the spot for that. Yeah.

[01:03:37] Speaker 10: Okay.

[01:03:37] Speaker 1: We've got a couple of minutes. Let's keep going. Anybody else have a thought?

[01:03:42] Speaker 7: I read, I read today, um, that there's a Texas... I was gonna talk to Ron about this, you know, had he been on it, our program, but there's a tax-funded water park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

[01:03:54] Speaker 6: Mm-hmm.

[01:03:54] Speaker 7: But, uh, they've announced a Muslim-only day on a Muslim holiday in... I can't pronounce it really. It requires a moderate dress code, and they will serve only halal slaughtered meat, but only Muslims are allowed to attend that day. And, um, and then, is it not true that... And not, not to bang this drum, but is it not true that, uh, Dallas, in the Dallas area, that the courts overturned, um, the courts overturned the desire of the people that a Muslim city not be built in that particular area, but the court said... They made it allowable that they can build a 400-acre Muslim town under Sharia law. So, so I think we're dealing with really, uh, dangerous precedents, you know, that are being set, and, uh, we sh- we should keep our eyes open, and um...

[01:04:53] Speaker 6: Mm-hmm.

[01:04:56] Speaker 7: We should, uh, prepare our hearts for more difficult days, because I'm sure they're, they're on the way, they're coming, and, uh, and to encourage each other and to hold each other up. Um, when I moved to California when I was 15 years old, my... I think one of my, uh... I was overwhelmed with how beautiful the state is, you know. I, I came from a little farming town in Southern Illinois, and, uh, I think one of my biggest desires was to meet Annette Funicello, and I was sure she was gonna be on the beach somewhere, uh, but that never happened. Um, but, uh, and it was in the '60s, and that was a turbulent time for the country, but especially in California when, uh, I fa- I saw one of my classmates at Santa Barbara High School. He had an American flag sewn on the bottom of the butt of his jeans, and he sat on the flag, and, you know, and it, it was just wa- my world was flipping, because that's not the kind of place I came from.

[01:05:52] Speaker 7: Um, to lose those kind of things and then to try and recover them is, uh, is a daunting task. Um, I read today where California has the highest cost of living in the United States. Uh, we have the highest rate of cost-adjusted poverty in the United States. We have one-third of all welfare recipients in the country, half of the unsheltered homeless in the US. Uh, we have... We are 49th in homeownership. Our K-12 system ranked 40th in the country. Uh, we are last in literacy in the United States. We're ranked 31st in, in the infrastructure. We have the worst roads in the country, uh, interestingly enough. Uh, the highest gas tax in the country, and the worst roads, that makes perfect sense. Um, we have, uh, unreliable and unaffordable supply of energy. We have an unreliable supply of water. Asked the people in the Pacific Palisades when their houses were burning down. And, uh, we have out-of-control forest fires, and we are ranked as the most unfriendly state to do business.

[01:06:58] Speaker 7: Uh, we've lost Chevron, Tesla, Oracle, SpaceX, In-N-Out, Charles Schwab, Hewlett-Packard, and the list goes on and on and on. And so, it's a, it's a, it's a daunting task, Elizabeth, and if we who love the Lord are not supporting you, then we are, we are failing terribly. Um, and so, I just wanna say, when you get there-

[01:07:21] Speaker 6: Yes.

[01:07:21] Speaker 7: ... just remember you have people who are loving you and praying for you and supporting you every day.

[01:07:26] Speaker 6: Yeah.

[01:07:26] Speaker 7: And just give that encouragement.

[01:07:29] Speaker 1: 'Cause it's- it's a big one.

[01:07:30] Speaker 6: Thank you.

[01:07:30] Speaker 1: It's a Goliath. (laughs)

[01:07:32] Speaker 6: Right.

[01:07:32] Speaker 1: It's... yeah.

[01:07:34] Speaker 6: Uh, go ahead, Ron.

[01:07:36] Speaker 9: It's interesting, Paul. Every- everything that you mentioned, those are all caused by men.

[01:07:42] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[01:07:43] Speaker 9: And I'll stick with my male pronoun, you know-

[01:07:47] Speaker 1: (laughs)

[01:07:48] Speaker 9: ... because legislature and the executive branch is predominantly overwhelmingly men.

[01:07:55] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[01:07:55] Speaker 9: And those are all manmade that can be fixed. If we think about water, more reservoirs and, uh, dealing with that fish in the delta that doesn't... does not need to be protected.

[01:08:12] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[01:08:13] Speaker 9: Men are more valuable than fish. I think I read about, uh, the birds of the air are less valuable than men somewhere, in some book somewhere. Um... I... and then you have your, your energy. You know, we're kicking out the gas companies and the processing of oil. We have enough oil in California.

[01:08:33] Speaker 6: Yeah.

[01:08:34] Speaker 9: We could supply our own gasoline.

[01:08:38] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[01:08:38] Speaker 9: I would like to be unique. California has... is its own island. We can't import gas from Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Mexico. We can't... we have-

[01:08:49] Speaker 6: Yeah.

[01:08:49] Speaker 9: ... we have our own blend. So, all of these are, are manmade and it's run amuck by the bureaucrats who are not elected, not elected, and they enjoying... enjoy their own immunity with, with that, whether they're on the Air Resources Board or the other environmental commissions.

[01:09:11] Speaker 1: Right.

[01:09:11] Speaker 9: Uh, so you're right, Paul. I mean, this... it's all... unfortunately, it's all manmade.

[01:09:16] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[01:09:16] Speaker 6: Yeah. In the '80s, California was self-sufficient. We produced our own oil and we drilled and we ma-... we refined, we... and we, we could export. We have enough oil to export.

[01:09:29] Speaker 9: (laughs) Yep.

[01:09:29] Speaker 6: But now we're bringing it in from foreign countries. Um, not... so it's not just out of state. It's primarily foreign countries and Alaska, 'cause we, we can't really get it over the Rockies. But we get some from Alaska, but primarily up to 60% foreign oil to California, um-

[01:09:51] Speaker 9: And some oil from our enemies, which does not make common sense.

[01:09:57] Speaker 1: Does make sense. Amen, Ron.

[01:09:58] Speaker 6: And it's so... more expensive. And, uh, if you're concerned about the carbon footprint, shipping it is a bigger carbon footprint than all the cars in California.

[01:10:10] Speaker 1: (laughs) Yes.

[01:10:11] Speaker 6: So, um, (laughs) it... yeah, so there's another, uh, not common sense there.

[01:10:16] Speaker 1: (laughs)

[01:10:16] Speaker 6: Um-

[01:10:16] Speaker 1: That's right.

[01:10:17] Speaker 6: ... I, I was thinking back to... well, going back to the California Constitution, the ideas of freedom and independence and prosperity are connected to being grateful to Almighty God in the Christian sense of our American founding fathers. And, um, I believe that the prosperity that the United States... that has led the United States to being leader and superpower in the world is directly connected to Christian founding and biblical-

[01:10:57] Speaker 1: Amen.

[01:10:58] Speaker 6: ... principles practiced in our culture. And our... the Christian culture is a culture of freedom. Um, the... uh, we ha-... w-... and so we allow freedom for Muslims to live among us, to be citizens, to even be in Congress. Um, but... so they're... but it's the Christian culture that allows freedom for other religions.

[01:11:22] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[01:11:22] Speaker 6: But if we allow, uh, this Sharia law and a Muslim culture to, um-

[01:11:32] Speaker 1: Okay.

[01:11:32] Speaker 6: ... overrun, overrun our Christian-based American culture, we will lose freedom.

[01:11:39] Speaker 1: That's right.

[01:11:40] Speaker 6: And that... and that's the problem. Uh, we c-... we will allow freedom for them, but they won't allow freedom for us if they, if they are given, um, control-

[01:11:53] Speaker 1: The opportunity.

[01:11:53] Speaker 6: ... of that... I mean, we don't have (laughs) ... yeah, we don't have cities that are completely comp-... say like, "You have to pass a Bible test to live in this city," right?

[01:12:04] Speaker 1: Right.

[01:12:04] Speaker 6: Um, right? Christians don't do that. Um, but Sharia, Sharia law is dangerous.

[01:12:10] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[01:12:11] Speaker 6: Um, and we, we can't let that get a foothold.

[01:12:15] Speaker 5: But it's, uh, it's the community of, you know, Christianity, when you take it to just 100% love.

[01:12:23] Speaker 1: Yes.

[01:12:24] Speaker 5: Include everybody and love them and skip the truth.

[01:12:30] Speaker 6: That's right.

[01:12:31] Speaker 5: Well, right? That's the flaw. So, they need to... yes, we want them to be included, but they... we're a providential America, they need to assimilate into America. When- they need to be... want to become, become proud to be an American and, you know, earn income through the prosperity that you can get here, the freedom that you have to say what you want to say, all those things. They need to assimilate, but they should not, um, isolate.

[01:13:03] Speaker 6: Mm-hmm.

[01:13:04] Speaker 1: Well, boy, this is-

[01:13:06] Speaker 5: They're good.

[01:13:07] Speaker 1: This is, this is exciting. Craig, that is spot on. This was built, the United States of America, the constitutional fathers built it on the Christian Judeo ethic of Western civilization. And each mind that doesn't fit in that is putting a round peg in a square hole. It's not going to match. That doesn't mean you don't love and care, but it just won't work, like Elizabeth said. And that's the common sense of this lady who is running for this district, to be something to bring back-What, what the Constitution of California says. Boy, I was enlightened too, like Steph said. I, I hadn't read all that. That's really good. So, uh, we're gonna have to wrap up. We could go going. We got a couple of minutes. We're gonna have to close out.

[01:13:48] Speaker 11: (laughs)

[01:13:48] Speaker 1: But, uh, Elizabeth, tell us how we can pray for you. And we're gonna ask if you could put up your, uh, your address one more time for everybody this, for this go round.

[01:13:58] Speaker 11: Yeah. So elizabethforassembly.com and ElizabethHuangAhlers on all the social media. Um, follow, donate and tell anybody you know in California (laughs) to vote for Elizabeth, um, um, prayer wise the ballots are already out. Some people have already voted. Um, and so we're praying that, um, those that, those that have yet to vote, they'll just be drawn to my name and if, if they haven't heard of me yet, they'll ...

[01:14:37] Speaker 11: They'll just like, "Oh, this one looks good." (laughs)

[01:14:41] Speaker 1: That's right. (laughs)

[01:14:42] Speaker 11: Um, and yeah, but that, we've had many people that share with their friends and family, so if they'll remember to do that. Um, so we were at Will Cintron's, uh, retirement party last Saturday. He had, um, niece and nephew that live in the district I do and they've already got my yard signs. And so

[01:15:04] Speaker 1: Amen.

[01:15:05] Speaker 11: ... and so, and so I gave them a, a stack of flyers to share and more yard signs. So if we, we get those out, the right timing, the right people and then, um, the whole election process, um, that if there's, um, that, you know that the cheating, well, we will, we can overcome any cheating. (laughs)

[01:15:27] Speaker 1: There you go.

[01:15:29] Speaker 11: Yeah.

[01:15:29] Speaker 1: Well, ladies and gentlemen, uh, we're so glad that you're with us tonight and we invite you to follow us all, our whole team and staff on Instagram, Facebook, other places you can find, uh, my Facebook. We put things up for her day after day and you'll want to know that it's there. Uh, and it's such a blessing to be with them each and every day. We're looking forward to this election being won and ready to go and then we're gonna stay close to this wonderful couple all the way through when everything gets taken care of in November. So let's just keep rolling together. And, uh, Steph, how about a quick prayer? You made it tonight for, for our, our personal, special night.

[01:16:07] Speaker 11: Sure. I would love that. Um, dear Heavenly Father. We just, we just come before you. We're so thankful for Elizabeth and Ron, Lord, and just, the foundation that you have laid with them as a couple, with you at the very center for these six beautiful children that they have. And grandchildren and I'm sure more to come. Lord, I just thank you for the roots that they have laid down in this community, Lord, for the love that they have, for the country, for the area, Lord. I just ask that... They shine so bright everywhere that they go, there's just people that, "Oh." There's something so different about them and we know that that's your Holy Spirit, Lord. But and non-believers may not know, but let them be drawn, Lord. We just ask for a favor as people go to, uh, fill out these ballots, Lord, and that, um, they just are drawn to Elizabeth and we just thank you in advance for what you are doing.

[01:17:01] Speaker 11: We know that this country is yours and we want to be honorable and we're just so thankful for the boldness that Elizabeth and Ron have shown, Lord. I just ask that you cover them with peace and a blessing of that because it is a tall order to go and be in that political arena which I know that the Bible also calls us to. So just thank you for these bold warriors. Um, let them know how loved they are.

[01:17:28] Speaker 1: Yes.

[01:17:29] Speaker 11: And your presence as they go forward, Lord. We just thank you and we're excited for what you are going to do. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Love you guys

[01:17:36] Speaker 1: Amen. Amen. We all said amen. (laughs) So be it, Lord. Thank you, Steph. And, uh, ladies and gentlemen, thanks for tuning in tonight to your show, Raising Expectations. We've got great things and great ways to pray for our lives and especially for the Ahlers now. Pray for Ron and his support. He's a great class A double, double A, triple A husband right there. He's a great man of God. And also for his lovely wife and all their family. So, um, on behalf of everybody tonight, we'll see you next week. Paul, good to see you. I'm glad you're feeling better.

[01:18:07] Speaker 1: And, uh, Steph-

[01:18:08] Speaker 11: Mm-hmm.

[01:18:09] Speaker 1: (laughs) Thanks for being here. We coughed right along with you. Thanks Tank. And, uh, you guys take care. We'll see you again next week, same time, same station, on Raising Expectations. Until then, stay prayed up, keep looking up and watch what God's gonna do. You won't wanna miss it. Strap in. Hang on. See you next week. Bye-bye.

[01:18:29] Speaker 11: Love you guys. Thank you

[01:18:31] Speaker 1: 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 Schofield 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.