The CRAWFORD STAND podcast

PEACE.Peace, I give unto you. My peace. Not as the world gives. Mine is perfect peace. Let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid!The words of the BABE OF BETHLEHEM. The most reassuring words, the words, the promises, which this world needs now so desperately. All humankind craves peace now more than ever, and that peace is more elusive than ever.In the end times, so say scriptures, there will be wars, rumors of wars, and physical brutality. Hatred among mankind will replace love. Jealousy, suspicion, lawlessness, and evil conduct will be how the world is. The peace of God in the person of Jesus Christ, THAT PERFECT PEACE, will be nowhere to be found, NOWHERE!Israel battles Hamas, the proxy of the brutal land and its rulers, Iran. There is enmity between the seeds, Arab and Jew, so says the scripture. That enmity is nowhere more evident than what now happens in The Holy Land, The Promised Land. The very land where the Babe of Bethlehem was born, the Christmas ambassador of peace has really never known that peace now more than ever. We are admonished as Christians to:PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.We pray, and pray more, and earnestly so, but that peace eludes in every way. It should be obvious to all that only the Messiah, THE PRINCE OF PEACE, the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ himself the Messiah, can bring that peace. That will come only WHEN HE COMES.War goes on. Hatred increases between Arabs and Jews, between Israel and Hamas. War goes on between Russia and Ukraine, war fostered by the evil dictator Vladimir Putin and civilians die, thousands upon thousands of innocent men and women, the elderly and children. They die without cause, craving peace, begging for it, praying for it, but it eludes them as the war-like hatred, the Christ-less hatred of mankind prevails. More of this will come. China will become a serious war monger and so will North Korea, and Iran, governed by men who dictate war, hatred, and killing, with no concern for human loss but only human destruction and more of it. The conduct of this world indicates clearly signs of:THE END TIMES.There would be nothing left of this world if those days were not shortened and the only one who can do that, THE PRINCE OF PEACE returns to take charge.When He does, swords will be ground into plowshares. The prince of Peace will make certain there will be no more wars, NO MORE! But, only the Babe of Bethlehem, whose birthday we celebrate soon, can bring that peace, can change whole nations and bring them to the Holy City of Jerusalem, to learn how to cooperate, work together, and foster peace under His rule of love. Only HE can make that happen, no one else.So, we who believe, believe in Him, His salvation message of love, healing, and PEACE. You should not worry or be afraid. Our Lord, the Prince of Peace, has admonished us:LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLEDNEITHER LET IT BE AFRAIDBELIEVE IN ME! Believe in my promises. Believe that I come again and I, He says, will bring the peace, the eternal peace which all humankind craves. I PROMISE I WILL DO THAT. So again, don’t be troubled. Don’t let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe in Me and that promise. BELIEVE! I will bring the PEACE OF JERUSALEM and I will bring (Shalom) peace to the whole world.So, don’t worry. If God be for us, who can be against us? No one or nothing can. PEACE-SHALOM I give unto you, so let not your heart be troubled. Rather, praise God for His unspeakable gift, the gift of His Son, Jesus of Nazareth:THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM.So, like the Angels of old, as they made that unbelievable announcement to the Shepherds about this divine birth, let us say with those Angels:GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHESTAND ON EARTHPEACE AND GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MANKINDAnd let us praise our God for that gift.And let us worship Him as the angels do, those of us especially who believe in that Salvation message which came from Bethlehem of old.And let us be thankful unto our God for his unspeakable gift. We cannot describe in human words the wonder, the magnitude, the depth of the love of that gift but we can now and evermore give thanks, and praise, and worship, and GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST! All the while we pray for that promise of peace on earth and goodwill toward all mankind, and for the soon return, THE SOON RETURN of the MESSIAH:THE PRINCE OF PEACE.3So, we thank you, Father God, I thank you for our Savior, your precious son:OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTTHE PRECIOUS BABE OF BETHLEHEM!

AI IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DULLING OF THE HUMAN BRAIN.That was a conclusion reached by no less than a study made by the respected and revered MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT). This study found that the more internet assistance, such as ChatGPT, and internet search engines that a student uses to help complete an essay, the lower their level of brain connectivity. That kind of mechanical help significantly lessens activity in the brain networks, especially brain functions associated with cognitive processing, attention, and (so very important) CREATIVITY!Therefore, the more AI the less the critical functions of the human brain.WE THE PEOPLE know that AI is becoming a force, invested in and developed by nations and the largest corporations and that its potentiality is unlimited. But there it ends for now, for most of us. We seem to draw shallow conclusions about this incredible force, determined whether we think it is good or bad, or both, and back to life and business as usual. But the day comes, perhaps as soon as the great year 2026, when AI may become the dominant force in our society.Why, so many say today, should we waste brain power and calories solving problems when we can get the answer from ChatGPT. The more we do that, say the so-called experts, the more we miss the:GROWTH OF THE WISDOM MUSCLE!The wisdom muscle. Whether the analogy is to the actual muscle tissue or to the strength and growth of the brain at work developing human wisdom, the analogy is apt, for the human mind must be challenged, required to think, analyze, and evaluate, or in time, the ability to do so wanes, the brain becomes used to LAZY, to thinking substitutes (chatbots), and the machine begins its triumphant road to supremacy over the human brain and the human being. Such a prospect, to many and to me, is frightening indeed.WHAT DO YOU THINK?Here then is another conclusion by the experts regarding the influence of AI chatbots:MINORS, CHILDREN, ARE BEING GOADED INTO COMMITTING SUICIDE!And, there is a continual decline in mental health which is linked to social media, which will only get worse with AI. The negative effects of AI, whatever the positive, can indeed have disastrous effects upon the human being, as AI continues to reach its full potential.Family relationships suffer. Individuals, especially the young, know that AI chatbots can cater to their every need. If AI can do that, why bother with family, with Dad or Mom, with human beings, when our needs can be met by machines.In addition to whatever may be positive economically as a result of AI, the negative effects can be disastrous. AI will undoubtedly grow at an exponential level which will affect the jobs, the livelihoods, and the lives themselves of potentially millions of people. Layoffs are now happening by the tens of thousands. Amazon recently laid off 30,000 people, not replacing them or replacing them with AI. Facebook has done the same. Some predict that in a matter of a few years, the vast majority of so-called white-collar jobs, middle level executives, will no longer exist, fully replaced by AI.And more. AI will continue to grow in an exponential way. It will always find a way to improve itself. What exists today in the AI world will be old technology in short order. Not only will this new technology serve to eliminate jobs by the millions, but it will prevent the creation of new jobs for new and expanded human employment. The result will produce economic and social chaos, never before seen by human beings. It will have an impact far greater than even the most powerful nuclear weapon, and it may be the negative force which produces:THE END DAYS.Like it or not, we better begin to know everything possible, everything we can understand about AI, for this incredible force will continue to influence, erode, and replace so much of life as we know it and every human being in America and the world at large.Christians, says the experts, must engage with AI. We have no choice, said one expert, because:THE ENEMY IS GOING TO USE IT!WE THE BELIEVERS must be involved in the critical function of:ESTABLISHING MORAL AND ETHICAL GUARDRAILS AND GUIDELINES!Otherwise, we will be left powerless and uninvolved as this incredible force grows, matures, and takes over. We can not let that happen.The faith of a Christian is built on a relationship. That relationship is human, personal, and it is with the:GOD-MAN JESUS CHRIST.Nothing AI can do, no chatbot, can ever replace that warm, loving, trusting, confidential relationship with the SON OF THE LIVING GOD. Only HE can provide that which every human being longs for and wants the very most in their lives:LOVE.That love in Jesus Christ can never be replaced or improved upon by AI. Sooner or later, AI will impact your life, somehow, some way. You, and all of us, should be ready for that. It is better that, to the extent we can, we be proactive, learn as much as we can about this powerful force, rather than reactive when it does in fact affect our lives for good or ill.Never let AI be more than a tool, an aid to a better human life, and never let this ever-growing technology take the place of:ANY HUMAN BEING!

Christians, real Christians, know and understand salvation, the incredible salvation experience, when they have met and believed in Jesus Christ.Real Christians know the experience of forgiveness of sin, the soul and character-changing encounter with the crucifixion, the body and blood of our Lord.Real Christians know how important, vital and life-changing PRAYER is, communion with God Almighty every day.Real Christians study Scripture, the Bible, Old and New Testaments, to learn, to grow, and to show themselves approved unto God work men and women who are never ashamed of the Gospel and their incredible spiritual experiences.Real Christians grow, understand, and are thrilled with the challenges and opportunities of THE JOURNEY OF LIFE.But even real Christians may not know the necessity, the meaning of this extremely important Biblical command:I WILL MEDITATE ON YOUR PRECEPTS. (TEACHINGS, COMMANDMENTS, LAWS, AND GRACE, AMONG OTHERS)Of all the Christians verities, the marvelous act of meditation may be the one most misunderstood or neglected. But Psalm 119:15 implores us to never forget to meditate daily, DAILY! There is no day too busy not to take time to:MEDITATE ON HIS PRECEPTS.Meditation, real meditation, as the process begins, is difficult. For some, it is very difficult. It requires an environment of:COMPLETE QUIET.Spurgeon urges and indicates that meditation, real meditation, can only occur when one enters the so-called CLOSET where there is complete quiet, perhaps darkness, an environment without distraction, noise, and certainly other people. There is an environment where one is alone and only with the company of THE HOLY SPIRIT, and with the presence of our Lord. It becomes the perfect QUIET TIME, away from everyone and everything.It is in that precious environment of SOLITUDE AND SILENCE that one, that every true Christian believer, can really hear and absorb the presence of:THE HOLY SPIRIT.It is only there that this indispensable CHRISTIAN HELPER and Comforter can make His presence known.It is only in that quiet time that real Christian growth and especially understanding of the mysteries of the Gospel can be revealed. It is only there, in the closet, that there can occur the work of the Holy Spirit which includes:ILLUMINTATIONENLIGHTENMENTINSTRUCTIONSINTERPRETATIONINSPIRATIONThose incredible spiritual experiences can only occur when the believer is completely open, and then the Spirit bear’s witness. The mind stands still, a tabula rasa readiness (a completely open and empty mind). All worldly thoughts are postponed, the heart opens wide, and the believer signals ready for the working of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is more difficult, but nothing is more worthwhile, NOTHING!Then one begins the next process, difficult, but necessary and oh-so-valuable, that completely open time when the believer:WAITS ON THE LORD.There is no agenda. The believer brings nothing spiritually or mentally into the closet but lays the soul bare before the Lord and waits, WAITS, on the Lord and the coming of the Holy Spirit. To understand the value, to learn patience, to learn how to wait, to empty the mind, and no matter how intellectual, really learn the deep, mysterious, and incredible truths of the Gospel. It is a discipline which takes time, practice, and constant experimentation. But no Christian experience is complete unless a believer learns how to practice and derive the benefits of:MEDITATION.And the incredible strengthening process of:WAITING ON THE LORD.Done right, then comes the work of the Holy Spirit. That work illuminates, educates, instructs, and, perhaps most importantly, interprets and inspires every believer, like nothing else and no other experience can. Meditation is the process of deep and rich:SPIRITUAL DIGESTION.The meditation experience alone can produce those rich and vital spiritual vitamins, the most important spiritual digestion of anything in the Christian journey.It takes time, quality time, daily time, no day is too busy to set aside quality time for the partnership and the workings of the Holy Spirit in meditation. There is no believer or any day which can not provide:30 MINUTESor more of quality time all alone IN THE CLOSET with the Holy Spirit. If a Christian sincerely wishes to grow in the things of the Gospel and our Lord, the goal should be the setting aside of that quality time, perhaps a minimum of 30 minutes:EVERY DAY.Then, a believer can rightly ASK, and, in that environment, there comes the Scriptural promise that such asking will be answered:ASK AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE ANSWERS.Meditation, real meditation, is not easy. It takes practice, time, trial and error, and patience, careful love, and patience in this cell phone age. But there is no spiritual experience, Christian experience, in the journey of faith, which is more worthwhile or more necessary if one, any believer, no matter how busy, sincerely desires to experience in this life all that our Lord and the Holy Spirit has promised to all true believers. As with prayer and thanksgiving, MEDITATION should be an essential part of the Christian journey and experience:EVERY DAY!

To be a Christian, especially today, entails a considerable risk of life and limb. That is so the world over, and now it begins, in a real way, in our very own America. To be a Christian invites persecution, ridicule, rejection, to be ostracized from society and the world at large. A great theologian said that to come to Christ is to die. But we who believe knew that before we committed and became one with Him. It then became our lot in life to die to self, to sin, to the world.We knew what He did, we knew the horrendous story of the crucifixion, the persecution of Calvary. We saw no greater love than His as He laid down His life for His friends, for all mankind, for all humankind. We knew that to live for Him, to accept Him, would be to lay our all on the alter, including our bodies, willing to make them a living sacrifice. Charlie Kirk knew that, lived that, and died for that and more.And so did the Apostle Paul. Paul, then Saul, hated Christians and Christianity. It was his mission to persecute and kill the followers of Jesus Christ. No one hated or persecuted Christians more than Saul of Tarsus. He was a Roman citizen, a Pharisee of the Jews, a blood thirsty killer and persecutor of Christians and Christianity. Saul was a master of persecution. So many early Christians died at his hand, or were jailed, or persecuted in physical ways, and lost virtually everything they had.But then came the Damascus Road, where Saul met Jesus Christ and became Paul, and he was never the same. He turned from persecution to preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His conversion was instant, dramatic, and dynamic, change at work from head to toe. The Christ of Glory knew what Saul had done, his horrible persecutions, and He said that He would show Paul the sufferings, the considerable sufferings and persecutions he himself would endure. No Christian could forget the question the Lord asked:“SAUL, WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME?”Why, said the Christ of Glory, do you persecute and kill those who love and believe in me, why? There came no answer to that question, but only the beginning of a total commitment to his newfound Lord and master. Saul then became Paul, and he never knew the extent of the promise of Jesus Christ:I WILL SHOW THIS MAN HOW MUCH HE MUST SUFFER FOR MY NAME.And suffer Paul did, big time. Paul described those sufferings in his own words in 2 Corinthians 11. He said,“I have labored extensively for Christ. I have been imprisoned many times. I haveendured beatings without number. I am always in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one. I was stoned three times. I was shipwrecked a night and a day. I have been in danger from rivers, from robbers, from my own countrymen, from the Gentiles, and from dangers in cities and desolate places. I have lived in danger from false brothers. I have endured many sleepless nights. I have endured starvation and thirst. I am often hungry and cold and without enough clothing. I am under constant pressure of concern and persecution for all the churches of Jesus Christ I have established.”Compared to those Pauline sufferings, so many of us Christians in America have had it easy, perhaps too easy.Paul eventually endured the ultimate suffering, the ultimate persecution. He was murdered. He was beheaded, a brutal way to die. He lost his life in a split second at the cut of a guillotine. Charlie Kirk, the Christian and Conservative, lost his life in a second from the bullet of an assassin’s rifle.Paul gave his life for the Lord he loved and in whom he firmly believed with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind. So did Charlie Kirk.Violence and vengeance seem to be on the rise in America now more than ever. In many quarters, it is dangerous to be a Christian and a Conservative. And, if one is both Christian and Conservative, the danger is doubled. Charlie Kirk was both. The bullet of an assassin, a young, irrational killer, fame-seeking and revenge-minded, ended Charlie’s life immediately. Charlie Kirk died for his country, and his Lord-Savior. The Apostle Paul died for his Lord Jesus Christ and as a Roman Citizen. They were great men, martyrs, heroes, missionaries, courageous, loving, an example to all of us who followed in so many ways. These two men laid down their lives for their fellow loved ones and families, and in fact all humankind. These two men showed the world that there was no greater love than that of a man, each of them, laying down his life for his friends, for all. And so did Jesus of Nazareth, our Lord. The Christ of Glory died young, 33. Charlie Kirk died young, 31. Paul lived longer, but suffered persecution longer. All three died brutal deaths, the Lord of Glory the most brutal, and violent, and painful, and suffered the most and longest of the three, for us, for you, for me. No greater love was ever shown to mankind than that of Calvary.We often wish for vengeance, retribution, and justice. But our Lord commands us to love our enemies, one of the most difficult things in all of life. He tells us that vengeance is none of our business, but that He, when and how He wishes, will be the instrument of vengeance. He requires us to turn the other cheek and promises He will make things right. Violence only begets more violence. Love, on the other hand, real love, never stops producing miracles. You could say that love in the face of violence and evil is the greatest weapon of all. The greatest vengeance, the greatest get-even is to pray for your enemy, do good to him or her, and show the love of Jesus Christ in every way. The only way you and I can do that is with the power, the courage, and the strength of our Lord.Like the Apostle Paul, Charlie Kirk knew that, believed that, and died for that.

No description provided.

There is a growing segment of our American society, this so-called new woke aspect, which seeks to redefine the meaning/definition of a man, a real man, a Biblical man.The definition of a man, by both Biblical and Societal definitions, was clear, not subject to debate or change. That man, created by the Great G-d Jehovah, the Great I Am, was created in His image and was to be like Him, ordained by God to be the ruler of the planet and to be head of all things. That man was biologically determined, and both sex and gender unchangeable. But, a man today, accordingly to the radical woke element of our society, can both decide and determine his sex/gender, and should he choose a different gender identity, he can do so, no matter any Biblical or biological determination.And, that changing definition is today a work-in-progress. A man today can now be gay, that is homosexual, bi-sexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), or some different alternative with which the individual may identify.It is really a tragedy what is happening to God’s first man, His creation. This new definition of man makes him not like HIM the Great Creator, but made in mans image and definition.But, let us review what the Bible says about a real man. He is called upon to be strong, not only in body, physically, but in mind, will, spirit, and soul. The real man is possessive of a God-made body, which is, as described by the Bible:THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.That physical body of a real man should be honored, respected, cared for, and kept in the best physical shape possible by that man, never forgetting that it is the housing of the spirit, The Holy Spirit of the Great Divine Triumvirate.That real man, like our Lord Jesus Christ, may enjoy the fruit of the grape, the wine which Jesus himself drank, if he so chooses, but should never, ever, be drunken. Drinking wine or alcohol to excess is the ruination of the temple of The Holy Spirit. No real man can function mentally or spiritually under the influence of drugs or alcohol. None.The real Biblical man respects his body and his sexuality, and will not be given to adultery, fornication, lascivious living, and always respects, protects, and honors marital intimacy. He is a man with strong fidelity and ultimate respect for:ONE WOMAN. ONE WIFE.The real man constantly strives to learn, educate himself, and in all things, asks for the wisdom for his life and decision making, which only God can give. The request for God given wisdom is constant, continuous, and totally sincere in all things, everything. God honors the sincere request of any real man for HIS wisdom.That real man is strong spiritually. Learn-ed in the Bible, and always learning. studying, sharing, witnessing, and teaching, always growing in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. That is the only way that man can be a real father and train up his children in the way they should go, the way of the Lord.That real Biblical man is a protector of the Christian faith, and to that extent, politically active. He renders unto Caesar the things which rightly belong to Caesar, but demands morality, truth, respect, and honesty in all things political. The real man is a watch dog, a watchman on the wall, making certain that Caesar functions in the way that Caesar should, so that the things of God Almighty are never interfered with.The real man discharges his duties as HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD. That ethical principle has become more unpopular today. Far too many men abandon their responsibilities and any substitute for a real father is never enough, inadequate, and most importantly, not Biblical.If the real man is privileged to have a real family, then that man, husband, father, friend, and teacher spends time, quality time, consistent regular and respectful time, with every member of that household lovingly together as one family unit but also, lovingly and respectfully individually with each member. Only by implementing both, together and individual, can the individuals of that family thrive and grow.The real man is truthful. That Biblical man does not lie. He is known for telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, transparency in all things. Any in the family, even the youngest, can sense hypocrisy, and can even more easily ascertain the lie of any kind. Nothing sabotages the credibility and integrity of a man/father than the lie, nothing.The Biblical man/father never fails to discipline when necessary. That discipline is not physical, but lovingly confrontational. That real man, and the real woman of the household, must be living examples of any rules and regulations which are established for the operation of the family and the household.The real man, and of course the real woman, must spend quiet time, time and prayer, meditation, and thoughtful evaluation and in the study of Scripture. And so much to every family member.The Bible, Old and New Testaments, has so much more to say about a man, a real man. It is difficult, if not impossible, to be a real man without that Biblical knowledge, definition, and encouragement of what a real man is. Today, the challenges of this world make it far too easy to compromise, surrender, and succumb to the definitions, pleasures, and lusts of the modern society. It is our prayer, our revival prayer, that the Biblical man, the man God and our Lord Jesus Christ intended, reemerge, become the shining light for society and for any family, and once again, both do and become the man/person which God intended. That man is always humble before the Lord, ready to admit wrong, apologize, to shed a tear, and to show love and respect to everyone. If a man, a Biblical man, lives and loves like the Bible intended, there is nothing in life any better, no greater force than that of a:REAL BIOLOGICAL AND BIBLICAL MAN.