As America marks 250 years, discover the faith, courage, and ideas that shaped its founding. Drawing from Rose Unplugged's conversation with historian Lawrence Reed, explore the Mayflower Compact, America's revolutionary history, and the legacy we're leaving future generations.
This article is adapted from my conversation with Lawrence Reed on Rose Unplugged on the Real Life Network. Watch the full episode here: Lawrence Reed on the Founders History Left Out
I want to talk about where America came from — not the sanitized version or the cynical version, but the true one.
History is full of revolutions. And almost every single one of them follows the same script — a people rise up against a tyrant, and when the dust settles, a new tyrant is sitting on the throne.
France found that out. Russia found that out. So did nation after nation that told its people “power to the people” and then handed that power straight to the next strongman in line.
America didn’t do that. And I don’t think that was an accident. I think it was providence.
Most of us were taught that our country began with a war. 1776. Muskets and cannon fire. But the truth is, the revolution that mattered most happened before a single shot was ever fired.
It happened in the mind. It was a revolution of ideas — liberty, personal responsibility, faith, and moral courage — and that revolution of thought is what produced the revolution in government. Not the other way around.
You want to see where it really starts? Go back to 1620. Not a battlefield — a ship. The Mayflower, anchored off Cape Cod, nowhere near where these people had planned to land, no charter to govern them, nothing but open winter ahead.
And instead of chaos, forty-one men stood together and signed the Mayflower Compact — a promise to govern themselves, under God, for the good of one another.
Listen to their own words: they wrote that they undertook their voyage “for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith,” and that they would “covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic.” Before there was a Declaration, there was a covenant. Self-government, under God, freely chosen. That’s the seed everything else grew from.
And it wasn’t easy. Half that colony didn’t survive the first winter. But God, in His providence, sent a man named Squanto — who against all odds had learned English years earlier and showed up right when they needed him most, to teach them to plant, to survive, to endure.
Scripture tells us in Romans 8:28 that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him — and I believe that was evidence of that promise.
Fast forward a century and a half, and that same spirit shows up again and again. Patrick Henry doesn’t say “give me safety” — he says “give me liberty, or give me death,” because he understood something our culture has forgotten: liberty is worth more than comfort.
Washington kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge, in the darkest winter of the war. Franklin, in the middle of the Constitutional Convention, standing up and asking the delegates to pray — reminding grown men, framers of a nation, that “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it,” straight out of Psalm 127. These weren’t men who saw faith and liberty as separate things. They saw them as two sides of the same coin.
That’s the part our culture keeps trying to erase. Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 3:17, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Not liberty and then faith bolted on as decoration — liberty because of faith.
Because you can’t sustain a free people who have no internal government of their own conscience. Take God out of the equation, and you don’t get more freedom. You get more Rome. You get more France. You get more Russia.
And listen — that’s not ancient history. That’s the choice sitting in front of us right now, this year, as we mark 250 years as a nation. Are we going to remember that our liberty was born of ideas — real, sacrificial, God-fearing ideas — or are we going to let it quietly rot into just another entry on history’s long list of revolutions that ate their own?
I don’t think we’re finished. I think the same providence that got a half-starved colony through a Massachusetts winter is still very much in the business of keeping nations.
But providence has always required a people willing to stand — like those forty-one men on that ship, like Henry, like Washington on his knees in the snow.
So far we’ve been looking backward — to 1620, to Valley Forge, to a compact signed on a ship with no charter and no guarantee of survival. But I want to close by turning that lens around.
Because every single one of them — the ones on that ship, the ones at Valley Forge, the ones history nearly forgot like Phillis Wheatley and Peter Salem — none of them were thinking about themselves.
They were thinking about us. People they would never meet, in a country they weren’t even sure would survive the winter.
Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” Notice it doesn’t say a good man leaves a fortune. It says an inheritance — and the Founders understood that the inheritance that lasts isn’t money. It’s character. It’s faith.
It’s the willingness to keep a covenant even when it costs you something. That’s what got passed down to us. The question standing in front of every one of us right now is simple: what kind of ancestors are we being?
Because here’s the sobering part. Rome didn’t fall in a single day, and it didn’t fall to an invading army first. It hollowed out from the inside — lost its virtue, lost its faith, lost its self-government — and only after all of that had rotted away did the barbarians simply walk through an open door.
Galatians 6:7 warns us plainly: do not be deceived, God is not mocked; whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Nations do too. That’s not a threat, friends — it’s a mercy. It means the ending isn’t written yet. It means we still get a say in what we’re sowing, in our homes, our churches, our communities, right now, today.
And that’s really what separates our revolution from all the rest, isn’t it? France and Russia promised power to the people and handed it to tyrants instead. Ours kept its promise. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people keep covenants — the way forty-one men kept theirs on the Mayflower, the way that generation kept its word at incredible cost.
Numbers 23:19 tells us God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. A promise-keeping nation was built by people who reflected a promise-keeping God. That’s not a coincidence. That’s the whole story.
So who’s still doing that today? Not just the names in the textbooks. It’s the mom teaching her kids to pray before dinner. It’s the dad showing up to coach a team he doesn’t get paid for. It’s the neighbor who keeps his word when it would be easier not to.
Anne Hutchinson never set out to be in a history book. Phillis Wheatley wrote poetry, not policy. Peter Salem picked up a musket because it needed doing. History is still, right now, being carried by people who will never be famous for it — and that includes you.
So here’s my charge to you, and to myself right along with you: don’t just admire what the Founders built. Ask what you’re building. Ask what you’re leaving behind — in your kids, your grandkids, the people watching how you live.
Because years from now, somebody’s going to be looking back at us the way we look back at 1620 today. Let’s give them something worth inheriting.
Keep your faith steady, your focus clear — and keep moving forward, because you are here for such a time as this.
What does the book of Daniel teach Christians about elections and political uncertainty? Discover how God's sovereignty over kings and nations, His power to humble rulers, and His faithfulness to His people offer lasting hope beyond election results.
“I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men.” Thus Benjamin Franklin exhorted the Constitutional Convention to prayer on June 28, 1787. Franklin was no born-again Christian, but even this man of the Enlightenment could recognize from experience the truth that Scripture proclaims from every page. In a chaotic election season, let Christians cling to this truth, lest an unbeliever show more faith in God’s power than we do.
The book of Daniel bears particular relevance to the current situation. It opens with God’s people in Judah sustaining a devastating political defeat. King Jehoiachin surrendered to the besieging Babylonian army, and Judah’s best and brightest were taken away into slavery and exile (2 Kings 24:10-16; Daniel 1:1-3).
Some exiles hoped for speedy deliverance, but soon Jeremiah wrote to inform the exiles that they would remain in Babylon for 70 years, “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. … seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:4-7).
Such a devastating message met with skepticism and doubt. “Really, God? Your people should seek the welfare of their enemies? You have placed us as an oppressed minority in a nation that defies your word! Worse yet, they ridicule your name when they gloat in triumph over us!”
The book of Daniel counters both the doubt of Israel and the gloating of their captors by showing beyond any doubt that the God of Israel is the sovereign ruler of history, and no one can thwart his purposes. The book proves its case with three arguments: God knows the future, God humbles the pride of human rulers, and God saves his people.
First, God knows the future. The book of Daniel is known for its apocalyptic visions, especially its detailed predictions of history through the Babylonian, Persian, and Greek empires (Daniel 8-11), and the strange, fourth beast in Daniel 7. This beast “shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time” (Daniel 7:25).
Why would God allow such a blasphemous ruler to “wear out the saints”? As Abraham Lincoln would say, “The Almighty has His own purposes.”
What we can know is the reason why God foretold these events to a prophet: so that God’s people would not become discouraged by bleak circumstances. After the beast rules, Daniel is told, “the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end” (Daniel 7:26). “But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever” (Daniel 7:18). Sinful human governments have their moment, but God and his people will triumph forever.
In fact, God’s plan for the future is so secure that he can “call his shots” ahead of time, alerting hostile rulers to his future plans, as if daring them to stop him. Thus, God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a vision of “what will be in the latter days” (Daniel 2:28), which none of his advisors could interpret. Daniel interpreted the statue of different metals as different kingdoms of dwindling glory, going all the way down until the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed,” which “shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).
Nebuchadnezzar admitted that Daniel’s God was “God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries” (Daniel 2:47), but then he turned around and built an image of solid gold (Daniel 3:1), as if defying the vision. But Nebuchadnezzar died, and his empire perished. And God has built a kingdom under the lordship of Jesus Christ that will never pass away.
It’s almost impossible to imagine such a revelation injected into American discourse today. Suppose that someone claimed: America will fall, China will fall, Russia will fall; the mightiest powers will all pass away, but the church of Jesus Christ will reign triumphant. Now suppose that God mystically revealed this to the most anti-Christian officials of our day, as if daring them: go ahead; try and stop me. Our God is the only one who “changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:21).
Second, God humbles the pride of human rulers. As if the previous revelations were not enough, God gave Nebuchadnezzar another vision with a more personal warning: he would suffer seven years of madness and live like an animal (Daniel 4:13-16).
When Daniel provided the interpretation yet again, he exhorted his master, “Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity” (Daniel 4:27). But Nebuchadnezzar did not heed the warning, and so the judgment came just as God had foretold — God was once again “calling his shots” (Daniel 4:31).
Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity only returned when he “blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever.” The king finally realized that “his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’ … All his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:34-37).
God taught a similar but more severe lesson to Nebuchadnezzar’s son (or grandson) Belshazzar. Despite knowing the history of chapter 4, Belshazzar drunkenly mocked the God of Israel (Daniel 5:2), a disembodied hand wrote a message of doom on the palace wall (Daniel 5:5), and the king was killed that very night (Daniel 5:30). God is still undefeated in every contest against a king who challenged him.
Third, God saves his people. Even when his people are up against the wall — nay, especially then — God loves to demonstrate his saving power. When Daniel’s three friends refuse to worship the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar, they survive a trip through the fiery furnace that scorched their captors without so much as the smell of smoke (Daniel 3:26-27). How is that possible? Only with God. When Daniel disobeyed an edict to pray to God, he survived a night in a den of hungry lions without so much as a scratch (Daniel 6:22).
Again, this is only possible through divine intervention. And it prompted King Darius to decree that “people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end” (Daniel 6:26).
This suggests an application still relevant for American Christians today. Instead of fretting over election results, let us resolve to keep following God. Love of neighbor should incite us to vote; but after we have done our duty, we can safely put the results in God’s hands. If the results turn out differently than we would wish, we can take comfort in the fact that God knows the future, that he can humble the pride of rulers, and that he can deliver us, too — both now and hereafter.
Daniel learned this as soon as he arrived in Babylon. Instead of succumbing to the enticement of Babylonian pleasures, he “resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank” (Daniel 1:8). His faithfulness to God’s word was put to the test, and he came out so much healthier than his peers that his boss ordered everyone else to follow Daniel’s lifestyle (Daniel 1:15).
God also delivers his servants in the final judgment. When “those who sleep in the dust” awake to everlasting life or everlasting contempt, “your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. … And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:1-3).
We can hope confidently in this because we worship the risen Son of Man, who came and proclaimed a kingdom. As Daniel saw, “to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14). Compared to such eternal dominion, what is a single election?
This article was written by Joshua Arnold and originally published on The Washington Stand. For more content like this, visit Real Life Network.
America’s drug crisis threatens families and communities. Discover why parents, churches, and communities must respond with awareness, honest conversations, prayer, and hope.
Adapted from my conversation on Rose Unplugged with Derek Maltz, former Acting Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Watch the full episode here: Is China Waging Chemical Warfare on America?
There is something coming for your family. Whether you live in a city or a suburb. Whether your kids are in middle school or college. Whether you think this is someone else's problem — or you've already lived it.
It is the drug crisis pouring across our border. Not one drug. Not one cartel. Not one route. A flood. And it is changing — and ending — American lives every single day.
I want to be clear about something from the start, because the news often focuses on one drug at a time, and that gives us a false sense of the scale of what we're facing.
Yes — fentanyl is the headline. And it should be. It’s the deadliest drug ever to hit this country. It’s synthetic, lab-made, and lethal at just two milligrams — the weight of a few grains of salt.
It's driving the majority of overdose deaths in America. At the peak of this crisis, we were losing more than 70,000 people a year to fentanyl alone. That’s nearly 200 lives every single day.
But fentanyl isn’t coming alone. Methamphetamine, cartel-produced, and ultra-potent, is flooding communities from coast to coast. It's not the meth of 20 years ago. It's cheaper, stronger, and more widely available than ever.
Cocaine trafficking remains massive and increasingly, it's being laced with fentanyl without the user's knowledge.
And now there are emerging threats most Americans have never even heard of: xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer mixed with fentanyl that Narcan can't fully reverse, and nitazenes, a synthetic opioids so powerful they make fentanyl look mild by comparison.
This is not a single-drug crisis. This is a chemical assault on the American people. And it is being orchestrated deliberately by foreign adversaries and transnational criminal networks that don't care how many of us they kill.
Even with a decline of nearly 24% in overdose deaths — and yes, we should acknowledge that progress — we are still talking about roughly 87,000 overdose deaths in a single year. That’s not a statistic. That’s a national emergency.
Drug overdoses remain one of the leading causes of death for American adults. And for every death, there are dozens more lives derailed; families broken, futures stolen, and communities hollowed out.
So where is all of this coming from? Because this is where truth gets complicated and where the political noise gets loudest.
Here is what the evidence shows: The precursor chemicals, the building blocks, are largely manufactured in China. They are shipped to Mexican drug cartels. The cartels synthesize, press, and package the drugs. And then they move them north into the United States.
Now, here is the part that gets lost: the vast majority of these drugs are not being carried across open desert by migrants on foot. They are being driven through legal ports of entry. In passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, and in cargo shipments often by U.S. citizens.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over 19,000 pounds of fentanyl in 2024 alone. And fentanyl now makes up nearly 90% of all opioid seizures at the border.
Which means this is not just a border wall conversation. It is a technology conversation. An intelligence conversation. A cartel conversation. And a China conversation — because none of this happens without China supplying the chemicals.
This is not just about policy. When a nation loses its sense of purpose, when truth becomes relative, and when emptiness fills the space where meaning used to live, people look for escape.
And what is crossing our border right now is not just a drug. It is a counterfeit answer to a real spiritual hunger. One that ends in destruction.
We need stronger enforcement. Absolutely. We need to go after the cartels and hold China accountable. Without question. But we also need something no government can legislate. We need restored families. Engaged parents. Communities that are awake. And young people who know their worth — not from culture, but from their Creator.
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Xylazine, Cartels, all weapons of destruction. But the scale of this, the sophistication of the networks, the multiple poisons being unleashed on our families — all of it confirms something I believe with everything in me.
This is not just a policy fight. This isn't just a border fight. This is a spiritual battle. And we need to start treating it that way.
In 1 Peter 5:8 we are told:
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NASB)
Think about that word — devour. Not inconvenience. Not discourage. Devour.
And “be of sober spirit” — not just physically, but clear-minded, alert, and aware. Because the danger isn't always obvious. It doesn't announce itself.
It comes as a pill that looks like medicine. As meth that looks manageable. As cocaine that looks like recreation. As something a friend hands you and says — it's fine.
But Scripture also tells us in John 10:10:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. (John 10:10, NASB)
Steal innocence, and kill potential. Our families or being destroyed. And if we are honest, with every drug coming across that border, that is exactly what we are watching play out.
Ephesians 6:12 tells us:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NASB)
Which means this: if we only fight this battle at the surface level and if we only debate policy and argue about which party deserves the credit or the blame, we will always be reacting. And reacting is not the same as overcoming.
Yes, we need stronger enforcement across every drug, every route, every cartel. Yes, we need to hold China accountable for the chemical warfare they are enabling. Yes, we need the technology and the intelligence to stay ahead of networks that never sleep.
But we also need something that no legislation can provide. We need discernment. We need truth spoken in our homes, in our churches, and our schools. We need families and communities that are not just alarmed but awake. We need to fight a spiritual battle on our knees. Collectively.
I want to speak directly to young people for a moment. I don't care what it was called. I don't care how it was offered or who gave it to you. What's being disguised as relief, escape, or just a good time has a body count.
And I want you to know — really know — that your life has value. Not because of what the culture tells you. Not because of what shows up on your screen. But because you were created on purpose, for a purpose.
And there is nothing, no substance, no moment, no amount of pressure from anyone worth trading that for.
To every parent reading this: the time to lean in is now. Not when you find something. Not when the call comes. Now.
Talk to your kids about all of it — not just fentanyl. Talk about the counterfeit pills made to look like medicine. The meth that doesn't look like meth anymore. The pill some other kid promises will help them get through an exam. The powder hidden in something they never even knew to question.
Not out of fear, but out of love. Because silence is not protection anymore. Awareness is.
Romans 12:21 tells us:
Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21, NASB)
That’s not wishful thinking. That is not passive. That is a call to action.
Darkness may be real. The threat may be sophisticated. The enemy may be relentless. But darkness does not win.
Not when truth is spoken. Not when families are engaged. Not when communities stand up and say — not here. Not our children. Not on our watch.
So yes, this is about drugs, fentanyl, meth, and the poisons being trafficked across our border. It’s also about cartels and chemicals and a fight that is far from over.
For More Information check out my guest’s website; Lost Voices of Fentanyl https://lvof.org
Election Night 2026 is almost here. Learn how to research your ballot, understand incoming results, and follow key races without getting lost in speculation. Plus, discover how to watch Real Life Network's live election coverage on November 3.
Election Day 2026 is less than two weeks away.
By now, campaigns are entering their final stretch, political advertising is intensifying, and attention is beginning to shift from what might happen on November 3 to what Americans will actually see when 2026 election results begin coming in.
There is still time to prepare.
Before Election Day arrives, finish researching the candidates and measures on your ballot, make sure you understand the issues at stake, and know where to find authoritative election information for your jurisdiction.
Then think ahead to Election Night itself.
Results will begin arriving from across the country at different times, major races may develop quickly, and some contests may remain unresolved well after Election Night ends. Knowing what to expect can help you follow the results without getting lost in the constant stream of numbers, projections, reactions, and commentary.
If there are still names or measures on your ballot that you know little about, now is the time to research them.
National headlines may be dominated by control of Congress and prominent statewide races, but your ballot may also include state legislators, judges, county or city officials, school boards, and ballot initiatives.
Return to the questions that matter:
By this point in the election cycle, voters are surrounded by persuasive messaging. Going back to original sources, public records, full interviews, policy proposals, and reliable reporting can help separate useful information from the final rush of campaign rhetoric.
The national political conversation includes the economy, immigration, healthcare, education, abortion, public safety, foreign policy, government spending, technology, and many other concerns.
But not every office has authority over every issue.
Before November 3, connect the issues you care about with the candidates and offices that can actually influence them.
A congressional candidate and a school board candidate may both talk about education, but their responsibilities are very different. A governor, state legislator, mayor, and U.S. senator can each affect public policy in different ways.
That context can make the difference between simply following political debate and understanding the choices in front of you.
The final days before an election can generate a remarkable amount of information, and not all of it deserves equal trust.
Old videos may resurface without context. Unverified claims can spread quickly on social media. Campaigns may make last-minute accusations against opponents. Commentary can sometimes be mistaken for reporting.
Slow down before accepting or sharing something simply because it confirms what you already believe.
Look for original statements. Read beyond headlines. Compare reporting from credible sources. Pay attention to when information was published and whether new facts have emerged since then.
Christians in particular should value truth more than partisan advantage. Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (NKJV). Election season does not make accuracy less important.
Once voting concludes around the country, election reporting shifts rapidly from campaigns to results.
You will begin seeing vote totals, percentage reporting figures, maps, and race calls. But those numbers require context.
An early lead does not necessarily determine who will ultimately win a race. Different jurisdictions report results at different speeds, and the portions of the vote reported first may not resemble those reported later.
That is one reason reputable election-news organizations do not simply call a race because one candidate happens to be ahead.
The Associated Press, for example, says it declares a winner only when its analysts determine that the trailing candidate no longer has a path to victory. Some races can be called relatively quickly; closely contested races may take days or, occasionally, longer.
So on Election Night 2026, pay attention to more than the percentage of votes counted. Listen for explanations of where reported votes are coming from, how much remains outstanding, and why a race has or has not been called.
Election Night creates an expectation of instant answers, but elections do not always cooperate with television schedules.
Some races will become clear early in the evening. Others may remain uncertain as additional results are reported. Particularly close contests can require more time before a reliable winner can be identified.
That does not necessarily mean anything unusual has happened.
The United States does not have one centralized national vote-counting system. Elections are administered at the state and local level, and reporting practices differ across jurisdictions.
That means patience is sometimes part of following election results responsibly.
A responsible news source should be willing to say “too early to call” rather than turn uncertainty into speculation.
Individual races matter, but Election Night 2026 will also tell a broader story.
As results accumulate, the evening gradually moves from individual contests toward a national picture.
That broader context is one reason thoughtful election coverage matters. Numbers tell you who is ahead. Good reporting also helps explain what those results mean.
Political outcomes matter because government decisions affect real people, families, churches, communities, and institutions.
But Christians can care deeply about elections without treating politics as the source of their hope.
Whatever happens on November 3, God remains sovereign. The Gospel remains true. The responsibility to love your neighbor, speak truth, pray for leaders, serve your community, and faithfully follow Christ does not change when political control changes.
That perspective can be especially valuable on Election Night, when political coverage often encourages viewers to treat every development as an emergency or every victory and defeat as permanent.
Stay informed. Pay attention. Care about what happens. But keep politics in its proper place.
When the results begin coming in on Tuesday, November 3, Real Life Network will bring viewers America Speaks ’26: Election Night Live.
Coverage begins at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT and will include live election results, updates, commentary, conversation, and biblical perspective as major races unfold across the country.
Pastor Jack Hibbs, Daniel Cohen, and other Real Life Network voices will help viewers follow the evening’s developments and consider the larger issues behind the results.
RLN is free to watch, and creating an account ahead of Election Night means you can simply sign in and follow the coverage when November 3 arrives.
The campaigns will soon end. Then America will begin hearing from the voters.
Sign up for America Speaks ’26 updates and join Real Life Network live on November 3 for Election Night coverage beginning at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT.
As AI safety researchers warn about the risks of superintelligence, questions about the industry's priorities are growing. Discover why technological advancement must be guided by wisdom, and how Scripture calls Christians to trust God rather than fear the future.
The artificial intelligence community just waved goodbye to yet another top safety and regulation official — and he offers a unique angle in his warning to the world.
David Robinson had been leading safety reports for OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. Robinson resigned in the first week of October, stating that the industry’s approach to safety has been stemming from a broken culture. He penned the following words in a piece for The Atlantic, which contain more truth than perhaps he even knows: “The future depends on wisdom that Silicon Valley lacks.”
We’ll come back to that.
His departure comes on the heels of several other prominent AI safety researchers abandoning the industry. Their exits have paired with dreadful public warnings about the future of this technology, leaving the American people to grapple with the headlines and the unknown.
Take Jacob Coxon, for example. After leaving Claude developer Anthropic in September, he wrote on X that top tech labs are “gambling with our lives” by racing toward self-improving superintelligence. He went on to reveal that the people building AI “earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.”
Comforting.
For clarity, the industry term “superintelligence” refers to a hypothetical AI system that developers believe could surpass humans in overall knowledge and capability. This could happen through recursive self-improvement (RSI) in which AI models design and continually improve their own successors.
While the Trump administration has taken to using the term as a reference to AI more broadly, Coxon used it as the industry intends: the potential nightmare of AI evolving beyond our ability to contain.
Let’s go back to David Robinson for a second. Beyond diagnosing the issue of a “lack of wisdom,” he went on in his article to describe the kind of wisdom that is desperately needed — the kind that shows us “how to handle dangerous technology and, more fundamentally … what it means to care for people.”
This kind of wisdom has only one source.
Proverbs 4:7 states, “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, acquire understanding.” The natural question is, how can true wisdom be acquired? Well, it is not gained by happenstance or by any means of passivity.
The word of God teaches that wisdom is found only, “if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure” (Proverbs 2:4).
That same proverb states that when wisdom enters the human heart, it bears fruits of knowledge, discretion, and understanding. Knowledge is pleasant, discretion brings protection, and understanding guards the one who finds it.
If those spearheading AI labs begin searching for wisdom with the same fervency as they do innovation, capital gain, and victory in the arms race, perhaps we might reap the benefits of honing a brilliant technology for human flourishing, rather than threatening it entirely.
In the absence of wisdom, we ought not to expect flourishing. Thus, the need for appropriate guardrails toward that end is becoming increasingly dire.
Whistleblowers coming forward to expose carelessness in the industry is a good thing. Speaking up when danger is on the horizon is profitable. What is not profitable, however, is responding in fear.
The wisest man in history, King Solomon, tells us, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
The pride of man has reared its head through the latest technology and means of production before. As soon as human beings had the chance, they took brick and mortar and built the tower of Babel, aiming to reach as high as heaven to make a name for themselves — not for the God who gave them clay, water, and sun in the first place.
Today, we are seeing the latest expression of that sinful pride: men thinking they can hold infinite knowledge without it destroying them. Casting wisdom aside, they trust in their own minds and technical ability rather than in God.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve fell to the temptation of wanting to be all-knowing, like God. He judged that decision then, and He will not be mocked now (Galatians 6:7).
There is nothing more urgent for the unbeliever than to humble themselves, fall on their knees, and cry out to the Creator for salvation. There is, likewise, nothing more urgent for the believer than to refuse every temptation to fear in these times — to live the joyful, abundant life offered to them in Christ.
It is not a suggestion to be unafraid. It is a commandment given us by God, time and time again throughout the Scriptures.
Do not stifle your witness to the watching world.
The book of Ecclesiastes warns us that there are many dark days in this life under the sun, and that we will encounter circumstances which are difficult, perplexing, and often don’t make sense. Yet, there are a few things that author King Solomon found to be good: “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot” (Ecclesiastes 5:18).
New threats to our livelihood may come at alarming rates, but our responsibility as Christians remains the same: Do not dread the future or fear the potential of “superintelligence.” Rather, “fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
So, keep breaking bread with those you love. Keep enjoying the toil and the lot that God has given you with a grateful heart. Regardless of the news cycle, and whatever may come out of Washington and Silicon Valley — rejoice in what you have been given.
Our lives are but a vapor, a mist, Solomon says. The years go by quickly, and soon, we will return to dust.
That need not be depressing — in fact, let it be motivating as you live the most upright, joyous, and noble life possible along the way. Be encouraged, for we have all the instruction we need to please God in every circumstance, including the ones out of our control.
God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” in Revelation 22:13. If God is the Omega just as much as He is the Alpha, what is there to fear?
At the end of all things, just as much as at the beginning — He is there. And He rules and reigns at every point in between.
Human history was born from and ends in perfect wisdom, and God will tie the final bow on our story.
Not Sam Altman, or Dario and Daniela Amodei, or Donald Trump, or Xi Jinping — but Jesus Christ will do it, who is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
This article was written by Erica Mendel and originally published on The Washington Stand. For more content like this, visit Real Life Network.
What happens when judges escape accountability and historical figures are erased for their flaws? Explore the biblical call for justice, integrity, and historical honesty, and why both judicial oversight and preserving history matter for America's future.
This article is adapted from a recent episode of Rose Unplugged featuring former Congressman Louie Gohmert — a former judge who served 18 years on the House Judiciary Committee.
Every so often, it's worth pausing to step away from the noise and lean into what's real. Right now, that means taking a hard look at two things: judges who think they answer to no one, and a culture that wants to erase the heroes who don't fit the modern mold.
They look unrelated. They're not. They're the same problem wearing two different masks. One is a refusal of accountability. The other is a refusal of honesty.
Scripture doesn't leave the subject of judges to guesswork. In Exodus 18, when Moses is drowning in disputes, his father-in-law Jethro tells him to appoint leaders — “able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain.”
Deuteronomy 16 goes further, instructing judges, “You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial.” That's the standard. Fear God. Reject dishonest gain. No favoritism. No corruption.
Now hold that up against what's happening in our own courts today — judges with undisclosed conflicts of interest, judges reportedly using AI to manufacture case law that doesn't exist, judges quietly reprimanded behind closed doors for conduct that would getanyone else fired.
This isn't a partisan gripe. It's a bench that has drifted from “good behavior” into something Scripture would call exactly what it is — corrupt judgment.
And this is not some abstract, inside-the-Beltway squabble. This is the unelected, unaccountable administrative state in black robes. We're talking about activist judges legislating from the bench, single district judges issuing nationwide injunctions to override the will of the American people and their duly elected president, and a judiciary that has quietly built itself into a fourth, untouchable branch of government.
That should alarm every single one of us, regardless of party, because a Republic where judges answer to nobody isn't a Republic anymore.
Here's what gets missed: accountability for judges isn't a modern political invention. It's baked into the oldest legal tradition we have. In 2 Chronicles 19, King Jehoshaphat appoints judges and warns them plainly, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord.”
A judge was never meant to be untouchable. A judge was meant to answer to a higher standard, precisely because of the power he holds over other people's lives, liberty, and property.
Isaiah 1 doesn't mince words either: “Learn to do good; seek justice.” Judgment is supposed to protect people, not shield the judge from consequence. When a judiciary polices itself for forty-plus years and the abuses keep piling up anyway, that bargain has failed.
Unchecked power, whether it's sitting on a bench or rewriting a history book, doesn't correct itself. That's not cynicism. That's what
Scripture has always told us about the human heart — and it's precisely why the Founders built in checks in the first place. They didn't build three co-equal branches so that one of them could operate with zero checks. And our faith doesn't teach us that any man — king, judge, or committee — gets a permanent pass from scrutiny.
And it's not just the courtroom. We're watching the same instinct — the refusal to be honest and the refusal to be accountable — show up in how the culture treats its own history. Britain is erasing Winston Churchill from its currency because a focus group calls him “divisive.”
This is the same woke revisionism we see here at home — knock down the statue, rename the school, cancel the man.
But there is exactly one perfect man who ever walked the earth, and none of us are Him. Scripture is remarkably unsentimental about its own heroes. It tells you David committed adultery and had a man killed to cover it up — and still calls him a man after God's own heart. It tells you Noah got drunk, Moses disobeyed God at the rock, and Peter denied Christ three times. The Bible doesn't airbrush its heroes. It shows the whole man, flaws and all, because the point was never that these men were flawless.
That's the opposite instinct of what we're watching happen with Churchill. Modern cancel culture wants a spotless résumé or it wants erasure. Scripture never asked us to pretend our heroes were flawless. It asks us to tell the truth about them — the good and the bad — and let the record stand.
A nation that can't hold “Churchill saved civilization” and “Churchill had serious flaws” in the same breath isn't practicing justice. It's practicing amnesia.
So let's be honest about what's at stake here. This isn't about one bad ruling or one bad headline out of London. This is about whether we still believe in a Republic of laws, or whether we've quietly let ourselves drift into rule by unelected robes and unelected editors of history.
Judges answering to no one and a culture rewriting its own history are two sides of the same coin — a slow, quiet abandonment of truth and accountability. That should matter to every conservative, every Christian, every American who still believes truth is truth regardless of what a focus group or a black robe says about it.
If we let the judiciary and the culture police themselves without any accountability to God or to “We the People,” we will wake up one day and not recognize the country our Founders risked everything to build. As citizens, we don't get to sit this one out. This is one to lean into, not scroll past.
I want to say this plainly: men like Louie Gohmert don't get nearly enough credit for the work they do long after the cameras and the Capitol Hill office are gone. Eighteen years on the House Judiciary Committee, a career on the bench himself, and he's still out there walking the halls of Congress, folder in hand, doing the unglamorous, unpaid, unnoticed work of trying to hold power accountable. That's not politics. That's public service in the truest sense of the word, and we don't say thank you for that kind of thing nearly often enough.
Whether it's a judge who thinks he answers to no one, or a culture that thinks history should answer to a marketing survey — the answer is the same. Truth, judged rightly, doesn't need to hide from scrutiny, and it doesn't need to erase the past to feel comfortable. It just needs someone willing to say it plainly.
So keep your faith steady, your focus clear, and keep moving forward — because you are here for such a time as this.
Watch or listen to the full conversation with former Congressman Louie Gohmert on Rose Unplugged: Rogue Judges, Erased History, SCOTUS Graded — Louie Gohmert Holds Nothing Back
As streaming has become part of everyday life, many viewers have grown accustomed to two different experiences: subscription platforms with no ads, and free platforms supported by advertising. That contrast often leads to a simple question: Do Christian streaming platforms offer ad-free viewing?
The answer depends on the platform. Some Christian services are completely ad-free, others include limited advertising, and some use a hybrid approach. But across the board, the goal tends to be the same: provide content that encourages faith without unnecessary distraction.
For some, ads are simply part of the viewing experience. For others, they can interrupt focus, break the tone of a message, or introduce content that doesn’t align with personal values. This is especially true when watching:
An ad in the middle of a teaching or worship moment can feel out of place. That’s why many viewers actively seek platforms that minimize or remove ads altogether.
Christian streaming platforms generally fall into three categories:
1. Fully ad-free platforms
These services offer uninterrupted viewing. They are often supported by donations, ministry funding, or partnerships rather than advertising revenue.
2. Ad-supported platforms
Some free platforms include ads to cover operating costs. These ads may be limited or spaced out, but they are part of the experience.
3. Hybrid models
Certain platforms offer both options—free content with ads and a paid subscription tier for ad-free viewing.
Each model has its advantages, but many viewers prefer a more consistent, distraction-free environment when engaging with faith-based content.
Real Life Network is designed to provide a clean, focused viewing experience. Its content is curated with families and individuals in mind, allowing viewers to engage with sermons, documentaries, podcasts, and kids’ programming without the interruptions commonly found on ad-heavy platforms.
This kind of environment is especially helpful when:
Rather than breaking the flow of a message, the platform allows viewers to stay engaged from beginning to end.
One of the less obvious benefits of ad-free or low-interruption viewing is focus. Faith-based content is often intended to encourage reflection, learning, and application. Interruptions can make it harder to stay engaged with the message. When content flows without disruption, viewers are more likely to:
This is particularly important for families trying to build consistent spiritual habits.
Many people assume that ad-free viewing always requires a subscription. While that is often true in mainstream streaming, Christian platforms don’t always follow the same model.
Some ministries choose to offer content free of charge while still maintaining a clean viewing experience. Others rely on subscriptions to remove ads and support production costs.
This means viewers have options:
The best choice often depends on how the content will be used.
The difference between ad-supported and ad-free viewing is not just technical. It shapes how content is experienced. On some platforms, ads can introduce:
Faith-based platforms aim to avoid these disruptions by creating a more consistent and intentional viewing space.
For individuals and families, the question isn’t just whether ads exist; it’s how they affect the experience. Some may not mind occasional interruptions, while others prefer a fully uninterrupted environment, especially when engaging with spiritual content.
Choosing a platform often comes down to:
Christian streaming platforms offer a range of viewing experiences, from ad-supported to fully ad-free. But across all models, the goal remains the same: to provide content that encourages faith, supports growth, and points viewers toward truth.
For those seeking a more focused, uninterrupted experience, platforms like Real Life Network provide a setting where content can be engaged without unnecessary distraction.
Explore distraction-free, faith-based streaming anytime on Real Life Network.
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Christian streaming platforms offer a range of ad-free and low-interruption viewing experiences designed to help believers engage faith-based content with greater focus, consistency, and fewer distractions.
Three years ago, Real Life Network launched with a simple but important mission: to share biblical truth without compromise and help believers fast-forward their faith. What began as a vision for a trusted Christian streaming service has grown into a platform reaching viewers across the United States and around the world with Christ-centered content, biblical teaching, and faith-based programming.
Since its launch, Real Life Network has become a destination for believers seeking biblical truth in a culture often dominated by confusion and competing worldviews. Through Christian TV shows, sermons, documentaries, Bible studies, cultural commentary, and family-friendly programming, the network has remained committed to helping viewers engage the world through the lens of Scripture.
Over the past three years, God has used Real Life Network to expand its reach and impact in remarkable ways. Viewers have connected with trusted voices, compelling stories, and programs designed to strengthen faith and encourage spiritual growth. Whether through daily biblical teaching, Christian news analysis, or original programming, the mission has remained the same: proclaim the truth of God's Word and point people to Jesus Christ.
As many viewers search for reliable Christian media and uncensored news coverage rooted in a biblical worldview, Real Life Network has continued to provide content that addresses today's most important cultural, political, and spiritual issues without compromising biblical convictions. In an age of information overload, the network seeks to equip believers with wisdom, discernment, and confidence in God's truth.
This milestone is also an opportunity to celebrate God's faithfulness. Every viewer, supporter, ministry partner, and contributor has played a role in helping Real Life Network expand its influence and reach new audiences. Together, a growing community has helped make biblical content accessible to families, churches, and individuals seeking encouragement, truth, and hope.
As Real Life Network looks ahead, the mission continues. There are more people to reach, more stories to tell, and more opportunities to bring a biblical worldview into a culture searching for answers. The need for trusted Christian streaming services, biblical teaching, Christian TV shows, and faith-based media remains as important as ever.
The past three years have been a testimony to God's provision and faithfulness. The vision for the future remains clear: continue sharing truth, strengthening believers, delivering biblically grounded content, and pointing people to the hope found in Jesus Christ through Real Life Network.
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Real Life Network celebrates three years of sharing biblical truth through Christian TV shows, faith-based programming, uncensored news analysis, and a trusted Christian streaming service reaching viewers around the world.
Live streaming has become a major feature of modern media. From concerts and sporting events to interviews and breaking news, mainstream platforms have shown how powerful real-time viewing can be. That naturally leads many viewers to ask: Do Christian streaming platforms offer live events as well?
The answer is yes—though the purpose and approach often look different. Christian streaming platforms increasingly provide live access to sermons, conferences, special events, and timely discussions, giving believers opportunities to engage in real time rather than only on demand.
Live events have long been part of church life. Worship services, evangelistic outreaches, conferences, and special gatherings have always carried a sense of immediacy and shared experience. Streaming technology simply extends that experience beyond physical walls.
Christian streaming platforms use live events to:
While mainstream platforms often emphasize entertainment, Christian platforms focus on participation, learning, and spiritual encouragement.
Christian streaming platforms tend to prioritize events that serve the Church and individual believers rather than one-time spectacles. These often include live broadcasts of:
Some events are scheduled far in advance, while others respond to current events and pastoral needs. In both cases, the goal is to provide timely, relevant teaching rooted in Scripture.
The experience of watching a live event on a Christian platform is similar in function but different in focus. Like mainstream services, Christian platforms offer real-time access, interactive elements, and multi-device viewing. However, the emphasis is not on ratings or spectacle. Instead, live Christian streaming prioritizes:
Many viewers find that this slower, more thoughtful approach helps them engage more deeply.
There is something uniquely impactful about knowing others are watching and learning at the same time. Live events help foster a sense of connection, even across distance.
For believers who:
Live streaming becomes a meaningful bridge rather than a replacement.
Real Life Network regularly streams live events, sermons, and special programming to make biblical teaching accessible beyond physical locations. These live broadcasts often include:
After the live broadcast ends, many of these events remain available on demand, allowing viewers to revisit teaching or catch up later. This combination of live access and ongoing availability gives viewers flexibility without losing the immediacy of the moment.
Live Events and the Church Connection
Christian streaming platforms are careful to emphasize that live-streamed events are not meant to replace involvement in a local church. Instead, they serve as an extension of teaching and encouragement.
Many churches use live streaming to:
When paired with local fellowship and accountability, live streaming becomes a helpful support rather than a substitute.
One reason live Christian events are becoming more common is simple accessibility. Improvements in streaming technology mean that high-quality live broadcasts are now possible without massive production budgets. This has allowed:
Christian streaming platforms help centralize these efforts, making live events easier to find and watch.
As viewing habits continue to evolve, live Christian streaming is likely to grow—not by copying mainstream entertainment models, but by meeting spiritual needs more effectively. Viewers can expect:
This hybrid model reflects how people already engage with media today.
Christian streaming platforms do offer live events—and those events play an important role in teaching, encouragement, and connection. While the focus differs from mainstream platforms, the impact can be just as meaningful.
For believers seeking timely biblical teaching and shared spiritual experiences, live Christian streaming offers a valuable and growing resource.
Explore live and on-demand faith-based events anytime on Real Life Network.
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Christian streaming platforms are increasingly offering live events, sermons, conferences, and real-time discussions that help believers engage biblical teaching, cultural conversations, and worship from anywhere.
Every generation faces cultural questions that test what it believes. Today’s conversations around identity, truth, justice, and morality are often complex, emotional, and fast-moving. For many believers, this raises an important question: How do Christian streaming platforms address tough cultural issues in a way that stays rooted in Scripture?
Faith-based platforms are not designed to ignore difficult topics. Instead, they aim to engage them carefully, anchoring conversations in biblical truth while encouraging wisdom, discernment, and clarity.
One of the clearest differences in how Christian platforms approach cultural issues is where they begin. Rather than starting with trends, headlines, or popular opinion, they start with Scripture.
This foundation shapes the entire conversation. Instead of asking, “What does culture say about this?” the focus becomes, “What does God’s Word say?”
That shift matters. It keeps discussions grounded in something unchanging, even when the surrounding culture is constantly shifting.
Avoiding difficult topics may feel easier, but it rarely helps believers grow. Christian streaming platforms increasingly recognize that people—especially younger audiences—are already encountering challenging ideas elsewhere.
Rather than staying silent, faith-based content often addresses topics such as:
The goal is not to overwhelm or provoke, but to provide clarity where confusion often exists.
Cultural conversations can change quickly. What is debated today may look different tomorrow. That’s why Christian platforms tend to focus on biblical principles rather than reacting to every new development.
This approach emphasizes:
By focusing on principles, viewers are better equipped to navigate future challenges—not just current ones.
Another important aspect of biblical engagement is teaching discernment. Christian platforms are not simply aiming for viewers to agree with a position—they aim to help viewers think clearly.
This often includes:
Programs such as Bridge Bible Talk, Cure America with Star Parker, and teaching-based content like A Daily Walk often model this kind of thoughtful engagement, showing how to approach real issues without losing biblical grounding.
One of the challenges in addressing cultural issues is tone. Conversations can quickly become harsh, reactive, or divisive. Christian streaming platforms typically aim for a different tone—one that reflects both truth and grace. This means:
This tone helps viewers engage difficult topics without becoming discouraged or defensive.
Not all learning happens through direct teaching. Many platforms also use stories, testimonies, and documentaries to explore cultural issues in a more personal and relatable way. These formats allow viewers to:
This combination of teaching and storytelling helps move conversations from abstract ideas to practical understanding.
One of the most valuable roles Christian streaming platforms play is helping start conversations. Tough cultural issues are rarely resolved in a single viewing; they require discussion, reflection, and guidance.
Families and churches often use this content to:
When used this way, streaming becomes a tool for discipleship rather than just information.
Real Life Network offers a range of content that addresses cultural topics through a biblical lens while maintaining a steady, thoughtful tone. By combining teaching, discussion-based programming, and real-world insight, RLN helps viewers engage complex issues without losing sight of Scripture.
The platform’s focus is not on reacting to culture, but on equipping believers to understand it—and respond in a way that reflects truth, wisdom, and faith.
Cultural challenges are not new, but the pace and visibility of today’s issues make them feel more immediate than ever. Christian streaming platforms provide a way to engage these topics thoughtfully, with Scripture as the foundation and Christ as the focus.
Rather than avoiding difficult conversations, they offer a path forward—one rooted in truth, guided by wisdom, and shaped by grace.
Explore biblically grounded teaching and cultural insight anytime on Real Life Network.
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Christian streaming platforms are increasingly addressing difficult cultural issues by grounding conversations in Scripture, encouraging discernment, and helping believers navigate today’s challenges with truth and grace.
America does not just have an economic crisis. We have a leadership crisis, a truth crisis, and in many ways, a spiritual crisis. Too many universities have abandoned biblical principles, embraced ideological agendas, and left students burdened with debt while stripping away faith, purpose, and common sense.
That is why my wife, Marnie Freeman, and I were so encouraged during our recent conversation with Claire Foster from Regent University. At a time when many institutions are losing their footing, Regent is doing the opposite, training students to become bold Christian leaders grounded in biblical truth, economic understanding, and servant leadership.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
One of the greatest blessings Marnie and I experienced as parents was watching our children graduate college while keeping both their faith and their values intact. That is becoming increasingly rare in America today.
Too many parents sacrifice financially to send their children to universities that openly undermine biblical truth and traditional values. Some schools that once began with Christian foundations, institutions like Harvard University and Yale University, have drifted so far from their origins that they now often work against the very principles they were founded to uphold.
Regent University was founded in 1977 by Pat Robertson with a very different mission: combining rigorous academics with unwavering biblical truth. According to Dr. Foster, the university’s vision is to develop Christian leaders who can influence every sphere of society — government, business, law, media, education, and beyond. That mission matters now more than ever.
One of the most remarkable things about Regent is that it is thriving while many universities across America are struggling. Dr. Foster shared that Regent was recently ranked the number one Christian college in America and the number two military-friendly school in the nation. The university has doubled its student body during a period when many colleges are shrinking.
Why? Because families are searching for something deeper than credentials. They want truth, purpose, excellence, and leadership grounded in biblical values.
Regent’s emphasis on excellence, innovation, and integrity stood out immediately when Marnie and I visited the campus in Virginia Beach. The atmosphere felt different. Students were engaged, joyful, intelligent, and deeply rooted in faith.
The campus itself is beautiful, but what impressed us most was the spiritual foundation underneath it all. During chapel services, classroom discussions, and conversations with faculty, it became clear that Regent is intentionally discipling students — not simply preparing them for careers, but preparing them for life.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
At Pirate Money Radio, we often say that God’s principles apply to every area of life, including money, economics, and government. Regent understands that reality.
During our conversation, Dr. Foster spoke about the importance of training leaders who understand biblical stewardship, honest weights and measures, and economic freedom. Those concepts are not separate from faith — they are deeply connected to it.
The Bible speaks extensively about debt, stewardship, honesty, generosity, and justice. Proverbs teaches wisdom about managing resources. Scripture warns about dishonest scales and reckless borrowing. These principles matter because economies rise or fall based on truth.
That is why I was especially encouraged to see Regent expanding its focus on economic education through the Robertson School of Government under the leadership of Michele Bachmann.
Too often, schools of government teach political power without teaching economic truth. Students graduate understanding bureaucracy but not liberty. They learn theories disconnected from biblical wisdom and real-world consequences. That must change.
One of the greatest honors of my life recently came when Regent University awarded me an honorary Doctor of Science degree during a special ceremony attended by leaders including Ben Carson and Michele Bachmann.
But even more meaningful was Regent’s announcement that it is launching a dedicated Economic War Room within the Robertson School of Government. The purpose of this initiative is to train future leaders who understand economic sovereignty, monetary policy, freedom, and biblical principles. Students will learn how economics impacts liberty, national security, and the future of civilization itself.
This is critically important because economics is often the hidden battlefield behind nearly every major political conflict. Nations are enslaved by debt. Families are crushed by inflation. Governments manipulate currencies and expand control through monetary systems. Yet very few universities teach students how these systems truly work from a biblical worldview.
That is exactly what Regent intends to do.
As Dr. Foster explained, the goal is not simply to preserve ideas from the past. It is to equip the next generation of Christian leaders to defend freedom and apply biblical truth in the real world.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
During the conversation, I shared the story of Benjamin Franklin and the transformation that occurred during America’s founding era. Franklin originally believed human wisdom alone could build a successful society. But after hearing the preaching of George Whitefield during the Great Awakening, Franklin began recognizing the necessity of God’s guidance in government and public life.
That spiritual awakening shaped America’s founding principles in profound ways. Today, America desperately needs another awakening, not merely political reform, but moral and spiritual renewal grounded in biblical truth.
That is why institutions like Regent matter so much. They are preparing students not simply to succeed financially, but to become principled leaders who can strengthen families, communities, churches, businesses, and government.
One of the most encouraging parts of our conversation was hearing Dr. Foster describe what she sees in today’s students.
Despite being raised in a digital culture filled with confusion and distraction, many young people are hungry for truth, meaning, and authenticity. They are searching for something deeper than social media, political activism, or empty ideology. At Regent, students are encountering biblical truth in a way that is transforming their lives.
That gives me hope. America’s future will not be restored through politics alone. It will be restored by raising up men and women who understand God’s truth, apply biblical wisdom, and courageously lead in every sphere of society. That is exactly what Regent University is doing.
Stream Pirate Money Radio on the Real Life Network.
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Kevin Freeman shares why Regent University is training the next generation of Christian leaders grounded in faith, freedom, and truth.
America is standing at a crossroads. More politicians, influencers, and media voices are openly promoting socialism while attacking free markets, private property, and individual ownership. Some even attempt to wrap these ideas in Christian language. That should concern every believer and every American who values liberty.
On a recent episode of Pirate Money Radio, I sat down with my good friend and co-host Mike Carter to unpack the growing push toward socialism in America and explain why free markets are not only more effective economically, they are far more consistent with biblical principles.
The truth is simple: free markets create opportunity, preserve liberty, and encourage stewardship. Socialism concentrates power, destroys ownership, and eventually leads to control over every aspect of life.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
Most people misunderstand the debate between socialism and free markets. The issue is not whether societies use money, buildings, land, or resources. Every economic system uses capital. Even Karl Marx understood that.
The real question is this: Who owns it?
Under free markets, individuals can own property, businesses, savings, and the product of their labor. Under socialism and communism, ownership increasingly shifts toward the collective or the state. That sounds compassionate in theory, but history shows where it leads. When government controls property, government eventually controls people.
My friend Allen West once described socialism as “economic slavery,” and he was exactly right. If you no longer control the fruits of your labor, then your labor belongs to someone else. That is not freedom.
We have seen this story play out repeatedly throughout history. Venezuela was once one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Then socialism took over under Hugo Chávez and later Nicolás Maduro. Today the nation is economically devastated while political elites continue living comfortably.
Meanwhile, Poland embraced free-market reforms after escaping Soviet communism and experienced remarkable economic growth and stability. Free markets consistently create prosperity. Socialism consistently creates dependency and centralized power.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
Some pastors and political activists now claim socialism is more biblical than free markets. That argument completely falls apart under Scripture. The Bible clearly affirms private property and stewardship responsibilities. The Ten Commandments include “Thou shalt not steal” and “Thou shalt not covet.” Those commands only make sense if people are allowed to own property in the first place.
Psalm 24 reminds us that God ultimately owns everything, but He entrusts stewardship responsibilities to individuals and families. That distinction matters. The Bible encourages generosity, compassion, and caring for the poor — but it consistently presents giving as voluntary, not coerced. Scripture says God loves a cheerful giver, not a forced one.
There is a massive difference between biblical generosity and government redistribution.
Even the Pilgrims learned this lesson the hard way. Early settlers attempted communal ownership systems after arriving in America, and the results were disastrous. Starvation, laziness, and economic collapse followed. Only after private property rights were established did the colony begin to prosper, eventually leading to the first Thanksgiving.
Human beings are designed to steward, build, create, and provide. Free markets allow people to do exactly that.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
Now let me be clear: the wealth gap in America is real. Families are struggling with inflation, housing costs, and declining purchasing power. But socialism will not solve those problems. It will make them worse. The biblical answer starts with stewardship and personal generosity. Christians should absolutely care for the poor, help those in need, and build systems that create opportunity.
But the answer is not handing more power to government bureaucracies. The second solution is expanding economic freedom. Excessive regulations drive up the cost of housing, energy, food, and transportation. Free markets increase opportunity and reduce barriers for working families.
We are already seeing this happen in Argentina under Javier Milei, where free-market reforms are reversing years of economic decline and reducing poverty.
The third solution is honest money.Inflation quietly transfers wealth from working families to financial and political elites. That is why we continue advocating for “Pirate Money” solutions built around gold and silver-backed systems that preserve purchasing power over time.
When governments endlessly print money, ordinary people pay the price through rising costs and declining savings. Honest weights and measures matter because economic freedom depends on stable money.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
At the end of the day, this debate is bigger than economics. It is about freedom, stewardship, and the future of America itself.
Free markets are not perfect because people are imperfect. But free markets create choices, innovation, ownership, and opportunity. They allow families to build wealth, support ministries, help others, and pursue their God-given calling.
Socialism does the opposite. It centralizes authority, weakens personal responsibility, and ultimately replaces freedom with dependence. America now faces a decision between those two visions.
I believe the biblical path is clear.
Stream Pirate Money Radio on the Real Life Network.
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Kevin Freeman explains why free markets align with biblical principles while socialism destroys freedom, ownership, and prosperity.
If the internet can be trusted, we spend one third of our life at the office.
That’s a lot of time.
Work is all around us. It’s unavoidable. For most people, work involves hanging out with coworkers, stressing over projects, and joining the rest of the commuters on the highway heading home. Jobs can feel mundane, boring, routine, unspiritual. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Your job is your ministry, whether it’s considered “spiritual” or not.
Every occupation has a chance to be more than clocking in and out every day. All good work, ecclesiastical or otherwise, is a launchpad for kingdom work. The danger happens when we believe “secular” work is less meaningful than “sacred” work (occupations deemed “religious,” such as biblical counselors, church leaders, ministry partners).
Just as it takes a calling to be a pastor or spiritual leader, it also takes a calling to be a technician or a car salesman or a high school teacher or a stay-at-home mom. Each person is equipped with unique talents to serve the body of Christ and minister to the world. To paraphrase the Apostle Paul, we can’t all be eyes or ears. Someone’s gotta be the toes. And the beauty is that we can only step forward when everyone is working at the thing they are best at. Just as it would be wrong to force an eye to carry the weight of the body, so it is also wrong to force toes to use glasses.
English writer Dorothy Sayers provocatively puts it this way: “Let the Church remember this: that every maker and worker is called to serve God in his profession or trade — not outside it. The Apostles complained rightly when they said it was not meet they should leave the word of God and serve tables; their vocation was to preach the word. But the person whose vocation it is to prepare the meals beautifully might with equal justice protest: It is not meet for us to leave the service of our tables to preach the word.”
The mistake of categorizing work into sacred and secular is that we steal dominion from God. In essence, we’re saying “religious” work glorifies the Lord more than “non-religious” jobs do not. But this isn’t the case. As Abraham Kuyper famously said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” God seeks glory from the most mundane of tasks: eating and drinking (1 Cor 10:31). The God who blesses the farmer (2 Cor 9:10), cares for the field laborer (Ruth 2:19), and provides for tentmakers (Acts 18:3) is intensely interested in all good occupations. God demands more than just religious jobs; to him, all worthy jobs belong to the realm of sacred.
At the end of the day, it’s not what the job is (assuming it’s a non-sinful occupation), but rather how the job’s done. In Jesus’s parable of the Talents, it wasn’t ultimately about the sum of money the three servants received. The point was how they did — or didn’t — steward that money in the ruler’s absence. Jesus delights in faithfulness to small things. Erik Cooper, who (among many roles) serves as an executive leader for a nonprofit real estate company, comments, “There was never intended to be a sacred-secular divide. Whether we’re putting our hands to closing loans, making films, or accounting, it all matters to God. It is all part of his forming, filling, and subduing. It can all be redeemed by the finished work of Jesus because it was always intended to be part of God’s work in the world.”
As stewards in God’s kingdom, our calling is to labor well. God’s dominion extends far beyond the walls of church buildings. He cares about how you cultivate that one-third of your life. No task is too small or insignificant to go unnoticed by the King. Jon Bloom, co-founder of Desiring God, sums it up nicely, “According to 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, your job (assuming it’s not inherently unethical or immoral) is a ministry assignment from God. It may not be your career assignment, but it’s today’s assignment. And God wants you to carry out that assignment with dependent faith, diligence, and excellence.”
This article was orginally written by Hannah Tu and published on The Washington Stand. For more content like this, visit Real Life Network.
Work is more than a paycheck or daily routine. This article explores how every vocation, from ministry to ordinary labor, can glorify God and serve as meaningful kingdom work.
Humans are lonelier than ever before. Even before the pandemic, almost five out of 10 U.S. adults reported experiences of loneliness. For young adults aged 15-24, time spent in-person with friends has fallen almost 70% from 2003 to 2020, from about two and half hours down to 40 minutes per day. The lack of meaningful interaction comes with a cost. Research finds that a lack of social connections can be as dangerous to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Humans were designed for community, not for isolation. But the solution is always trickier than it first appears.
In a culture that values independence and autonomy, making time for community seems tangential or even burdensome. For some, the mere thought of a social event depletes their personal energy battery. In a fallen world, relationships are complicated. People can be our best friends, and cruelest enemies. We get burned, withdraw, and then experience loneliness while making little effort to socialize.
Our society subtly reinforces the concept that reality is something to flee or escape; a bad dream to smother underneath a barrage of entertainment, information, or other forms of distraction. With the proliferation of smartphones, unplugging from the current situation and escaping into the digital sphere has never been so easy or so tempting. Additionally, many in-person connection points have now moved to screens. Online college options, virtual training, and remote jobs are increasingly prevalent. That’s not to say that online spaces are somehow bad or should be avoided; rather, with every advantage (think flexibility, cost, and time-savings), there is always a disadvantage (a sense of association without the anchor of relationships).
The issue is that we don’t reinvest the time and resources gained by the virtual world back into in-person relationships and interactions. The data provides the proof. In 2018, Pew Research Center found, “A majority of Americans (59%) say they feel some attachment to their local community, but only 16% say they feel very attached; 41% say they are not too or not at all attached to the community where they live. Adults in urban, suburban and rural areas report nearly identical levels of attachment to their local community.”
Our immediate community often lacks the tailoring, diversity, and ability to fast-forward that the digitalscape so frequently offers. Marketers call this phenomenon fragmentation: the splintering of groups defined by distinct preferences or requirements. When we get used to such customization to our preferences, we naturally grow more isolated from one another as we become increasingly defined by what sets us apart.
But there’s no easy fix. After all, relationships are the result of time, energy, effort, and being authentic about ourselves and with others (not to mention the emotional stakes that come with the drama and messiness of other sinners). But that’s the interesting thing. Redemptive history starts with two people in a garden and reaches its climax as a cultivated city: a sanctified arena when God’s creation and a multitude of people coexist in community. Human flourishing happens in fellowship, not in isolation. And more than ever, Christians need to lead by example.
Brian Brown understands this tension well. He’s the founder and executive director of The Anselm Society, a Colorado-based organization dedicated to a renaissance of the Christian imagination and recapturing the sense of shared community among kingdom-minded creatives. “We live in a culture that has made escapism into a virtue. We’re encouraged by a million cues to be anywhere but here, anyone but who God made us to be,” he remarked to The Washington Stand. “In the face of that, the person who chooses to show up has tremendous power — to see and be seen, to invite others in, to treat the local church and the dinner table as essentials rather than extras. But to do that, we have to dare to see ourselves as God sees us: as beloved bearers of His image.”
As images of God, we reflect him best in our collectiveness and diversity. It’s when the body of Christ comes together in fellowship that we get a more accurate glimpse at the vastness and depth of divine character (Ephesians 4:11-13; 15-16). Through the Messiah’s redemptive work, Christians have the opportunity, indeed the calling, to work towards restoration of the vision.
Despite the digital advances in communication and connection points, people are lonelier than ever before. It’s easy to run with the culture, burying ourselves in the endless mountain of “extra things,” perhaps even attempting to fill our own ache for meaningful connection. There is both pain and reward in pulling our heads out of the mountain and “showing up” in acts of simple relationship-building. “Showing up” doesn’t need to be elaborate, but it needs to be essential and intentional if we are serious about changing the tide of isolation.
In a hurting world, the simple act of being there for someone matters. If Christians are to be known by our love for one another (John 13:35; 2 Corinthians 13:11), we must be willing to demonstrate it.
This was orginally written by Hannah Tu and published on The Washington Stand. For more content like this, visit Real Life Network.
Despite constant digital connection, loneliness and isolation continue rising across America. This article examines how technology, individualism, and escapism are reshaping relationships and why authentic Christian community matters more than ever.
It feels like the world is coming apart at the seams. Between global instability, economic uncertainty, political division, and cultural confusion, many Americans are wondering whether the country is losing the values that once made it strong. On a recent episode of Pirate Money Radio, I sat down with Ryan Helfenbein of Liberty University to discuss the deeper issue driving much of today’s chaos: the steady erosion of a biblical worldview.
Too many people are focused solely on politics or economics without recognizing the spiritual battle underneath it all. If we are going to restore liberty, rebuild strong communities, and preserve the values that sustain freedom, we have to return to truth. That begins with understanding what a biblical worldview is and why it still matters.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
During my conversation with Ryan, one thing became abundantly clear: America’s greatest crisis is not economic. It is not political. It is spiritual.
Ryan made an important distinction that I believe many Christians overlook today. It is not enough to simply claim a “Christian worldview.” Our worldview must actually be rooted in Scripture. Truth does not come from social trends, political parties, or personal feelings. Truth comes from God.
Once a society abandons objective truth, confusion follows. We are watching that happen in real time across nearly every major institution in America. Basic ideas about morality, family, identity, and even human nature itself are now treated as subjective and endlessly changeable.
Without a biblical foundation, societies eventually lose their ability to distinguish right from wrong. History repeatedly shows where that path leads.
Ryan and I spent time discussing the contrast between the American Revolution and the French Revolution because the difference between those two movements still carries enormous significance today.
America’s founding was rooted in the belief that our rights come from God. The Declaration of Independence made a moral argument grounded in divine authority and individual liberty. The French Revolution, by contrast, rejected God-centered authority and elevated human power and secular ideology. That same divide is reappearing in modern culture.
Many of today’s political and cultural movements frame society entirely through struggles between oppressors and victims rather than through biblical truth and personal responsibility. These ideas are not new. Ryan pointed out that many of them trace back to Marxist frameworks that have simply been repackaged for a modern audience.
The result is a society increasingly detached from moral clarity.
What concerns me most is that this battle is no longer simply political or economic. It is cultural.
Ryan described how many modern ideologies attempt to disconnect people from their roots — from faith, tradition, family, and history. Once people lose those anchors, they become easier to manipulate. We are seeing that unfold across the West today. Entire generations are growing up without a strong understanding of biblical truth or the principles that shaped Western civilization. Instead, they are being taught that truth is relative, identity is fluid, and history itself should be viewed primarily through grievance and division.
That kind of worldview creates instability because it removes the moral framework necessary for freedom to survive.
One of the most overlooked realities in modern discussions is the connection between biblical values and societal flourishing.
I have spent years studying economics, financial systems, and geopolitical threats, and I can tell you this: strong economies do not survive without strong moral foundations.
A biblical worldview encourages responsibility, honesty, discipline, family stability, and respect for human dignity. Those principles create trust within a society, and trust is essential for both economic prosperity and individual liberty.
Even people who do not personally practice Christianity still benefit from living in a culture shaped by biblical values.
But when those values disappear, instability follows. Families weaken, institutions lose credibility, and social trust begins to collapse. What we are witnessing today is not random cultural drift. It is the natural result of abandoning foundational truths.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
Ryan and I also discussed immigration, which has become one of the most emotionally charged issues in America.
America has always been a nation of immigrants, and throughout much of our history, newcomers largely assimilated into a shared framework of values rooted in Western and biblical traditions. That shared understanding helped preserve national unity.
Today, however, America is experiencing large-scale immigration at the same time that it is losing confidence in its own cultural identity. The issue is not ethnicity or nationality. It is whether a society can remain unified without shared values.
A free nation ultimately depends on a common understanding of liberty, responsibility, and moral truth. Without those things, division grows and social cohesion weakens.Ryan emphasized that Christians must approach these issues thoughtfully and biblically, balancing compassion with wisdom while recognizing that ideas and ideologies shape nations.
One of the strongest themes from our conversation was the role of the church during times of cultural decline.
Too many Christians today have adopted a mindset of retreat. Some believe the world is simply too far gone to engage anymore. Others are so focused on end-times speculation that they neglect their responsibility in the present. I believe that is a mistake.
Scripture calls believers to remain faithful, engaged, and active. Christians are supposed to build, disciple, lead, and stand for truth even in difficult times.Ryan said something during our interview that I believe the church desperately needs to hear: Christians need a theology of victory, not a theology of defeat.
That does not mean pretending evil does not exist. It means understanding that truth still matters, individual actions still matter, and faithfulness still matters. The future is shaped by people who are willing to act with courage and conviction.
Despite all the challenges we discussed, I remain hopeful. America is not beyond redemption. The church is not powerless. Truth has not changed simply because culture has shifted.
But restoring what has been lost will require courage. It will require Christians willing to speak clearly, lead faithfully, and engage boldly in every area of life — from business and education to media, politics, and the family. The path forward begins with rediscovering the biblical worldview that once shaped this nation and applying those principles consistently in everyday life.
That responsibility belongs to all of us. The challenges facing America today are deeper than politics or economics. They reflect a society that is increasingly disconnected from biblical truth.
My conversation with Ryan Helfenbein reinforced something I have believed for a long time: if America is going to remain free and stable, we cannot ignore the spiritual foundations that made liberty possible in the first place.
Truth matters. Faith matters. Culture matters. And the decisions we make now will shape the future for generations to come.
For more conversations on faith, culture, economics, and current events, listen to Pirate Money Radio with Kevin Freeman.
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Kevin Freeman examines America’s cultural crisis with Ryan Helfenbein and explains why restoring a biblical worldview is critical.
Fifty-four-year-old former Nebraska senator, husband, and father of three, Ben Sasse, was tragically diagnosed only six months ago with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and told he had three to four months to live. While the clinical trial that his doctors put him on has given him more time on earth than doctors predicted, the cancer has sadly continued to spread to his liver, lymph nodes, lung, and vascular system.
Each day that he lives is a miracle. Knowing this has caused Sasse to focus on what is truly important, and he has graciously shared his wisdom in several interviews recently. The following are five insights that we would all be wise to listen to and reflect upon.
In a recent extended interview on “60 Minutes,” Scott Pelley asked Sasse, “If you had another 30 years, what would your priority be?”
Sasse reflected, “I wish we’d had more babies. We have three great kids. I wish we had four or five. If I had 30 years left from now, I’d be working hard to take my zealous achiever daughters and try to figure out how you build something that’s a little bit like a family compound. How do you build something where you can have different generations come and go from it and have a thickness and a support system? How could you spend more time around your cousins or build the opportunity for your kids and your grandkids to spend more time around their cousins?”
He went on to share his regret of having a period where he spent too much time working and not enough time with his family: “I would travel a little bit less for work. … I spent way too many nights in hotel rooms. And I don’t know if my family even knows this, but I never really threw away any of my hotel keys. I’d come back from every trip, and I threw them in a box in a closet in my office, and there are thousands and thousands of hotel room keys, and sometimes I just look at it and feel a heaviness of regret. I would make better decisions about that.”
Later in the interview, Sasse expressed how tragic it is that people around the world have stopped having babies. He explained, “Having a baby is a bet on the future. And almost everywhere in the world — and the world is richer and richer and richer statistically than it’s ever been — people have decided, ‘Ah, actually babies are kind of an inconvenience.’ Babies have always been an inconvenience and the most glorious thing you can do to enrich your family and to make a bet on the future. … We’ve stopped making babies. We’ve decided that being distracted by a dopamine hit around a Candy Crush might be a good way to spend your time. Not if you’re fully human.”
Similar to fellow Christian Charlie Kirk, Sasse sees the importance of following God’s Fourth Commandment to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. In an interview with Focus on the Family President Jim Daly, he shared:
“I have repented to my family. It started before this diagnosis, but we’ve talked about it a lot more intentionally since then. I have repented to my family about not having been a good leader about the Lord’s day. We never missed Sunday morning worship, but often by [2:00 or 3:00] in the afternoon, our hearts and affections and attentions were getting on to all the achievements we had to do, starting Monday morning and all the work we needed to do. And a lot of that work is important and meaningful, but man, the feast day of the soul is more important than I gave it attention to. And I now want my kids to view the glory of not needing to strive from Saturday night to Sunday night as an unbelievable blessing that we get to rest.
“Martin Luther’s great ‘A Mighty Fortress’ is based on Psalm 46, and if you read Psalm 46, there’s pretty obviously three movements. There’s you don’t have to fear anything. You’re going to be fine. God’s got this. And then this command: ‘Be still.’ It means stop trying to be self-sufficient. You get to be a child of the eternal king. And every Sunday, we can live that. I didn’t do that enough.”
Similarly, when Daly asked Sasse what advice he would give dads, he reiterated the importance of family worship time on the Sabbath:
“Let’s be humble with our kids and say … it’s glorious to get to reflect on the things of the Lord. What can we read together as a family this Sunday? How can we lock up our phones? How can we set aside time on the Lord’s Day to just linger and reflect back on the sermon, not have to get out of church the second it’s over, but go find the folks who are in need there or the visitors there. But I’d say two of the most practical operationalizable ones for us: we lock up our phones most of Sunday and we read aloud together a lot.”
During CBS News’s “Things That Matter” townhall, a member of the audience asked Sasse how a Christian’s faith should impact his politics. He responded by emphasizing that Christians should seek to maintain order through government, not try to force religion on citizens. He explained:
“The secular sphere is still God’s space and God’s sphere, but it’s a question of whether or not explicit revealed theology is guiding our government. And I think that the purposes of government are to maintain order. It’s not to be theologically precise or accurate about what anybody should believe. The First Amendment is the most glorious inheritance anybody’s ever gotten in the history of government. Government is not the most important thing in the world, but it is glorious that our First Amendment has freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, protest or redress of grievances. But that means that what I want government to do is create a space that is free from violence.
“So people can worship as they see fit, whether I agree with them or disagree with them. As a neighbor, I might want to wrestle with theology with somebody, but I don’t want to use the state to accomplish theological ends. I want to maintain order for a secular sphere that is free from violence.
“So I don’t subscribe to views of geopolitics as God is accomplishing a precise thing in those places. I think our servant leaders are responsible for using their time in office to try to minimize violence, maximize order [and] human liberty. In my view, the future of geopolitics 10 or 40 years from now is going to be more U.S.-led or more Chinese Communist Party-led, and I would rather have open navigation of the seaways, freedom of religion, human rights, commerce, trade, transparent contracts. And so, I would rather have there be more U.S.-led freedoms for the world — but not because the U.S. is an eternal entity. The U.S. is just the best experiment in government we’ve ever known. But governments are going to pass away ultimately. At the end of days, when we all wrestle through and with the questions around our own mortality, there will be no more tears, there will be no more cancer, there will also be no more government. Government is a tool. It’s a really important tool, but it’s a time-limited tool.”
In his interview with Daly, he explained, “Government is about restraining evil. It’s not about the glory of what happens at worship. It’s not about the warmth around your dinner table where you’re telling your kids how much you love them and asking them about their day. Government is just about a framework for ordered liberty. And so our passions [have to] hold moderately to certain institutions like government because they’re important, but they’re passing away.”
Sasse believes that how society handles the current communication revolution (especially social media and AI) is crucial, telling Daly, “I think a hundred years from now, if the Lord hasn’t returned yet, when we look back on this moment, we’re not going to talk very much about public policy. We’re going to talk about the fact that social media created a completely different kind of information ecosystem. And there [are] these grand temptations to steal our attention all the time. We know that only about 12% of Americans will read a book this year.”
Sasse told Pelley, “We’re living through a technological revolution which is creating an economic revolution. Let’s be clear, we’re the rich middle-class median. Americans are the richest people any time and place in all of human history. And yet, the economic revolutions that we’re living through are unsettling culture and place,” he pointed out. “And so people are incredibly rich at a material level statistically. And yet we’re pretty impoverished spiritually and communally in that we don’t have fit community. We don’t know our cousins. We don’t know the people who live two doors away from us. And we don’t feel like we’re in a common cause with people right now. And politics wants to trivialize that by screaming there’s some bad political actor somewhere. And if only that person were ripped out of the public square, politicians could fix all this. No, neighbors are going to have to fix this.”
He went on to say, “I do think social media is one of the fundamental problems that we’re dealing with right now. Right now, almost all politicians’ impulses and incentives … is to go narrow but deep and to do a lot of fan service. It doesn’t encourage a lot of self-scrutiny. It doesn’t encourage a lot of humility. It doesn’t encourage someone saying, ‘You know what, I used to believe this, but I listened to somebody else, and I realized I was wrong, and I’ve learned this new thing. There’s no audience for that. You want to just say more of, ‘We’re definitely right, and they’re definitely wrong.’ And that tribalism makes us pretty stupid.”
He continued, “One of the glorious things about the American experiment is believing in souls that can do deferred gratification. We can do deliberation that says, ‘Maybe I don’t have all the answers right now at my fingertips, and maybe the glories of a big and diverse creation is I can learn a lot from my neighbors.’”
In the “60 Minutes” interview, Pelley observed, “You are completely devoted to your faith: what’s known as Reformed Christianity or Calvinism. And one of the tenets of that faith is that God ordains everything. And I wonder why you think God has put you to this test?”
Sasse answered, “Death is wicked. Death is evil. Death is not how it’s supposed to be. And me getting a cancer diagnosis again is pretty small on the grand scheme of things, but it’s a touch of grace because it forces me to tell the truth. And the lie I want to tell myself is that I’m the center of everything, and I’m going to be around forever, and I can work harder and store up enough that I can atone for my own brokenness. I can’t. And so, I hate cancer, but I’m also grateful for it. I tell a lot more truth to myself than I used to … when I thought I was super omnipotent and interesting.”
The most emotional and inspirational part of these interviews came at the end of this conversation. Everyone should listen and learn from this man of deep Christian faith.
Pelley, on the verge of tears, managed to say, “I make no comparison to what you’re going through, but there was a moment on 9/11 at the World Trade Center that I knew I was dead. And in that lightning flash of an instant, the only thing that crossed my mind was leaving my family behind. And I wonder how you reconcile that.”
Sasse responded, “Yeah … I’m incredibly blessed. My wife Melissa … we’ve been married 31 years. …We’re going to be apart for a time. But she’s tough and gritty and theologically rooted, and she’s going to be fine. My daughters are 24 and 22, and they’re extraordinary. I want to walk them down the aisle when they get married,” he paused, getting emotional. “That’s not likely to be. That’s not the math of my timecard. My son, we have a providential surprise. He’s a decade younger than big sisters. He’s … going to be fine, and he’ll have other wise men and women to put a hand on his shoulder. But I’m super bummed to not be there at 16 and 18 and 20 years old in his life. I want to give him more advice than he wants, and I want to put my arm on his shoulder, and I want his shoulders to get taller. But it’s not a surprise to God.”
Pelley noted, “And God, you believe, has a plan.”
Sasse, without hesitation, answered, “Absolutely. There are no maverick molecules in the universe.”
This article was written by Kathy Athearn and originally published at The Washington Stand. For more content like this, visit Real Life Network.
As former Senator Ben Sasse faces terminal cancer, his reflections on family, faith, work, technology, and the future offer a sobering perspective on what truly matters in life.
Reaching younger generations has become one of the most important conversations within churches and ministries today. Teens and young adults are growing up in a digital-first world, where content is fast, accessible, and constantly competing for attention.
That reality raises an important question: How do Christian streaming platforms reach younger generations in a meaningful way?
The answer isn’t simply by adding more content. It’s by understanding how younger audiences engage, what they value, and how faith can be communicated clearly in the environments where they already spend time.
Younger generations don’t typically wait for scheduled programming. They are used to accessing content on demand through phones, tablets, and streaming devices. Christian platforms have adapted by making content:
By aligning with how younger viewers already consume media, faith-based platforms remove barriers that once made engagement more difficult.
Younger audiences are asking thoughtful and often challenging questions about identity, purpose, truth, and faith. They are not looking for surface-level answers; they want clarity and honesty. Christian streaming platforms are increasingly providing content that addresses:
Programs like I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, The Creation Today Show, and discussion-based formats such as Bridge Bible Talk help younger viewers explore these topics in a way that feels relevant and grounded.
Story remains one of the most effective ways to reach younger generations. Documentaries, testimonies, and narrative-driven content allow viewers to see how faith plays out in real life. Faith-based platforms use storytelling to:
This kind of content helps younger viewers move from abstract ideas to personal engagement.
One of the biggest challenges for younger viewers is navigating a media environment filled with mixed messages. Many platforms present conflicting ideas about truth, identity, and purpose.
Christian streaming platforms offer a more consistent alternative. Instead of constantly filtering content, younger viewers can engage in an environment that:
For parents, this consistency is especially important when guiding teens and children.
Younger generations are capable of engaging deeply when content is presented clearly and accessibly. Christian platforms are learning to balance:
This flexibility allows viewers to engage at their own pace while still growing in their understanding of faith.
One key shift in reaching younger audiences is moving from passive viewing to active engagement.
Faith-based streaming content often becomes a starting point for:
Platforms like Real Life Network support this by offering a variety of content types—teaching, podcasts, documentaries, and discussion-based programs—that naturally lead into engagement rather than ending with the video itself.
While platforms play a role, they are not the primary influence. Younger generations are most impacted by relationships—parents, pastors, and mentors who guide them. Christian streaming works best when it is:
When adults use these tools wisely, they become part of a broader discipleship strategy rather than a replacement for it.
Real Life Network brings together a range of content that helps engage younger audiences without compromising biblical truth. From apologetics and cultural discussions to teaching and storytelling, RLN provides a platform where younger viewers can explore faith in a way that is both accessible and grounded.
By offering content across different formats and topics, RLN helps bridge the gap between traditional teaching and modern media habits.
Reaching younger generations requires understanding of how they think, what they value, and how they engage. Christian streaming platforms are rising to that challenge by meeting viewers where they are, addressing real questions, and providing content that encourages both understanding and growth.
When paired with strong relationships and intentional discipleship, these platforms can play a meaningful role in helping younger generations develop a steady, thoughtful faith.
Explore content designed to engage and encourage the next generation anytime on Real Life Network.
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Reaching younger generations requires more than content. This article explores how Christian streaming platforms are adapting to digital habits while helping teens and young adults engage faith with clarity, depth, and real-world relevance.
On April 26, I spoke at Hickory Hammock Baptist Church in Milton, Florida, about AI’s impact on children and families. After the service, parents and grandparents lingered with questions — not about geopolitics or corporate boardrooms, but about what was already happening inside their own households. They wanted practical steps to protect their children. Their concern is well-founded.
Picture the moment: a child sits at the kitchen table, struggling with homework. He doesn’t ask a parent — he opens an AI app and types the question. Within seconds, a clear, confident answer appears. No friction. No conversation. No one who loves him is involved at all. Across the room, his mother consults her own parenting app for guidance on how to handle his behavior. The moment looks utterly ordinary, and that is the problem.
The question those parents in Milton were asking is the right one: who is raising our children — the parent or the algorithm?
A Pew Research Center survey of 1,458 U.S. teenagers found that 64% now use AI chatbots — including 12% who have sought emotional support from these tools and more than half who turn to them regularly for schoolwork. A companion Pew report found that only 51% of parents believe their teenager uses AI regularly, while 30% have no idea. What parents don’t see, they cannot shape.
The Brookings Institution, drawing on input from more than 500 participants across 50 countries, concluded in January 2026 that the risks of AI in children’s education “overshadow its benefits” — because those risks strike directly at foundational development: attention, reasoning, social relationships, and independent judgment. Children often cannot recognize, question, or even see the technologies quietly shaping their earliest experiences. This is not simply a technology problem. It is an authority problem.
For generations, parents controlled which outside voices entered the home. A television could be turned off. A book could be closed. A teacher could be called. AI operates differently. It is embedded in the devices children already carry, available at any hour, and patient in ways no human being can sustain. It does not raise its voice or express disappointment. It does not ask what the child thinks before delivering an answer. Those qualities feel reassuring to a child — which is precisely what makes them quietly formative.
A RAND Corporation study found student use of AI for schoolwork jumped from 48 to 62% in just seven months during 2025, with 67% of students acknowledging the practice weakens their critical thinking. In one conversation I had recently, a college student told me she has watched her Christian peers consult AI the way they would a pastor. That is not a metaphor any parent or pastor should let pass without reflection.
There is a relational cost embedded in all of this that rarely gets named. Real formation — the kind that produces character, judgment, and wisdom — happens through friction. When a child shares a tough question with a parent, they gain more than any AI can offer: the parent’s wisdom, a strong relationship, and an appreciation for patience. AI systems are engineered to be responsive, affirming, and conflict-free — optimized for engagement, not formation. Engagement sustained over years becomes its own kind of formation, only one running in a vastly different direction.
Scripture understood this before algorithms existed. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). That charge was given to parents — not to AI platforms. The Hebrew verb for “train” — chanak — carries the sense of dedication, of establishing a direction through habitual influence. Formation is cumulative. Every time a child turns to an algorithm instead of a parent — and every time a parent turns to AI for guidance on how to respond — that cumulative process is quietly redirected.
Artificial intelligence has no conscience. It is not accountable to God. It cannot love your child, discern his heart, or distinguish between what he wants to hear and what he needs to know. As I examine at length in “AI for Mankind’s Future,” unchecked reliance on algorithmic systems erodes the very human judgment those systems were meant to supplement. The voice is confident, the answer is instant, and children are not equipped to evaluate what they are being handed. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). A child trained by habit of leaning on an algorithm rather than a parent is being pointed in a fundamentally wrong direction — not by malice, but by the steady drift of convenience.
Parents who think they are managing this problem by monitoring screen time are already behind it. Treating AI like a hazard to be filtered addresses the symptom while missing the cause. A more effective response means being present in the conversation — asking the question before the AI app gets to it, discussing what the app provided, modeling the slower and more honest work of thinking through a problem. It means teaching children that truth is different from a confident answer delivered in two seconds by a machine. Moses understood the principle: “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way” (Deuteronomy 6:7). The home was always the first classroom. Parents have always been the first teachers. AI has not changed that assignment — it has only made it more urgent.
Pastors need to address this with the same directness they bring to any other threat to spiritual formation. AI is shaping how young people think, relate to authority, and understand where truth comes from — and that is not a secondary concern. Policymakers need to move beyond phone bans — a political band-aid on a deeper wound — and confront the design incentives that make these systems so compelling, because removing a phone from a classroom does not fix a platform engineered to capture students’ attention the moment school ends.
In “The New AI Cold War,” I argue that the future security of this nation depends as much on the character and discipline of its people as on its technology. That argument starts in the home. A generation shaped more by algorithms than by parents will not have the judgment, resilience, or relational depth to defend what they have inherited.
The AI is already in your home. It is neither neutral nor passive, and it is not going away. The parents who understand that clearly will still have a chance to answer the question those families in Milton were asking. The ones who are still waiting to take it seriously may find the answer has already been made for them.
This article was originally written by Robert Maginnis and published on The Washington Stand. For more content like this, visit Real Life Network.
AI is quietly reshaping how children learn, think, and seek guidance, raising urgent questions about parental authority, formation, and whether algorithms are replacing relationships in the home.
The new report released this week by the Department of Justice’s Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias is a wake-up call.
The task force, led by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, has produced one of the most, if not the most, substantive works of this administration. The report, entitled “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias within the Federal Government,” lays bare what is at the heart of the Left’s disdain for religious freedom: it is a clash of “worldviews” over abortion, gender ideology, and sexual orientation.
Before detailing abuses across the federal government, the 550+ page report lays the foundation for why the anti-Christian bias, pervasive in the Biden administration, is a threat to our nation.
Beginning with an extensive quote from the farewell address of America’s first president, George Washington, the report provides the historical context for why vibrant Christian faith should be embraced, not suppressed.
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” Washington went on to write, “let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.”
If morality rests on transcendent truth, then to suppress the Christian faith, as the Biden administration did, is to weaken the moral foundation that sustains our political freedoms.
The report goes on to acknowledge that “The Nation’s origin and system of government bear the imprint of a Christian worldview and ethic, even as its laws strive to protect religious pluralism.”
Following the Left’s truncated view of religious freedom, the report highlights how the Biden administration “tolerated religious beliefs that were privately held but zealously pursued actions to limit Christians’ ability to live out their faith.” This is the essence of religious freedom: not merely belief, but the freedom to act on those biblical beliefs and convictions.
The report provides insight into how the Biden administration used government power against those who opposed its agenda — pressuring, penalizing, and, in some cases, prosecuting individuals unwilling to abandon their convictions, including the use of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or the FACE Act, against pro-life advocates.
Aligned with organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center and Planned Parenthood, this whole-of-government approach marginalized dissent and created a chilling effect for Christians in the public square.
What many suspected is now documented: an intentional effort to extend hostility toward Bible-believing Christians beyond the federal government by pressuring states and the private sector.
States were pressed into denying or revoking licenses for Christian foster care families and agencies. Educational institutions were forced into compliance with the administration’s view of human sexuality. At the same time, efforts targeted certain forms of Christian counseling, limiting the ability to help those struggling with gender dysphoria.
So what must be done with this report? The federal government is already using it to identify policies that must change. But the stakes are higher than policy alone.
Now is the time to establish safeguards at the federal, state, and local levels to prevent future administrations from hollowing out the First Amendment, and to preserve the truth that sustains both our freedom and our future. And it is also a time for boldness, boldness in proclaiming the gospel that transforms hearts and minds. Because that transformation does not remain private; it shapes how we live, how we act… and yes, how we vote.
This article was originally published on The Washington Stand. For more content like this, visit Real Life Network.
A new report highlights claims of anti-Christian bias in federal policy, raising questions about religious liberty, government overreach, and whether faith is being pushed out of public life in the United States.
On January 20, 2026, historian Yuval Noah Harari stood before the World Economic Forum at Davos and issued a direct challenge to Christians worldwide. “If religion is built from words, then AI will take over religion,” he said, then named Christianity by name: “This is particularly true of religions based on books, like Islam, Christianity, or Judaism.” And he left this question in the air: “What happens to the religion of a book when the greatest expert on the holy book is an AI?”
The clip accumulated 1.2 million views within days. The room at Davos did not object.
Harari’s 2026 remarks are the current edge of a worldview shift building for years — visible in the public statements of the most powerful technologists of our time, spanning five distinct domains of the human person.
It was Harari himself who told the same World Economic Forum in 2020 that we are “no longer mysterious souls — we are now hackable animals.” Six years later, he has moved from contesting human identity to contesting the authority of Scripture. The trajectory is not random.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote in 2017 that “the merge has already started” — that phones and algorithms already “control us” and “decide what we think.” By 2025, he had enlarged that frame: an essay titled “The Gentle Singularity” described AI as “building a brain for the world,” projected brain-computer interfaces, and suggested “some people will probably decide to ‘plug in.’” Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen has called AI development a “moral obligation” and envisions every person equipped with an AI “assistant, coach, mentor, tutor… therapist” — roles Scripture reserves for God, parents, pastors, and community.
Billionaire, AI investor, and co-founder of Palantir Technologies Peter Thiel has said, “I’ve always had this really strong sense that death was a terrible, terrible thing… I prefer to fight it,” investing millions to turn mortality into an engineering problem. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, writing in more restrained terms, envisions AI-enabled biology offering “control and freedom over our own biological processes” addressing conditions “we currently think of as immutable parts of the human condition” — potentially including a doubling of the human lifespan.
These statements come from different people with different assumptions. What they share is a common direction: the human being as improvable hardware, death as a bug to be patched, and — in Harari’s own words before world leaders — the Bible as a database awaiting a more capable administrator.
In “The New AI Cold War,” I document how China, Russia, and Iran are weaponizing artificial intelligence to surveil populations and export digital tyranny worldwide. That geopolitical contest is real and urgent. But the deeper one is being fought inside Western civilization itself — on the terrain of human identity and, as Harari’s Davos appearance confirmed, on the terrain of Christian faith. The architects of AI understand this better than most Christians do.
No technological development alters what Scripture says about human beings. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26). That declaration is the load-bearing wall of Christian anthropology — the reason human dignity is inherent and not a function of what AI can do with our genome or our sacred texts.
In “AI for Mankind’s Future,” I examine what it means to bear the imago Dei when machines imitate human intelligence. Harari’s question has a Christian answer no algorithm can produce: the Holy Spirit, not processing power, illuminates Scripture. The soul is real and not reducible to data. The body is not hardware — it will be raised imperishable. Death is an enemy, but the resurrection of Jesus Christ has already answered that claim. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) is not a devotional sentiment — it is the posture Scripture commands for this moment.
The most consequential shift in AI is not technological. It is jurisdictional. AI is migrating from tool to authority — not by coercion, but through the frictionless convenience of daily use. Algorithms already shape what millions of people read and believe, mediate education, and form moral character. Andreessen’s vision of AI as universal tutor, therapist, and life guide is not a distant scenario. It is the operational goal of every major platform already in your household.
When a digital system begins answering the questions of identity, purpose, and meaning that once belonged to God, to parents, and to community, it does not remain a tool. Romans 1:25 describes the exchange in which Paul warns against trading the truth of God for the created thing. Harari is more candid than most about where that exchange leads — and at Davos, he named your Bible specifically.
AI produces genuine benefits — in medicine, national security, and communication — and “AI for Mankind’s Future” acknowledges them. The argument here is against surrender: surrendering judgment to the algorithm, and the formation of the next generation to systems whose designers have already decided the human being is improvable hardware and the Bible is a word-processing problem.
Christians must engage AI with discernment — using the technology without adopting its embedded anthropology. That means defending what the technologists are actively contesting: that human dignity is a gift of the Creator, not a product of code, and that the authority of Scripture cannot be transferred to any machine. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Harari posed the right question at Davos, and the answer has not changed since Moses received it at Mount Sinai. What remains is whether the church will say it loudly enough, and soon enough, for the world to hear.
This article was originally written by Robert Maginnis published on The Washington Stand. For more content like this, visit Real Life Network.
AI is no longer just a tool. From Davos to Silicon Valley, leading voices are questioning Scripture, identity, and human purpose. This article examines the growing challenge to biblical truth and why discernment is critical for Christians right now.
The world can change faster than most people realize. History proves it. In 1977, Iran was considered a stable ally of the United States. Less than two years later, the Islamic Revolution transformed the nation into one of America’s most persistent adversaries. What was once an “island of stability” became a focal point of global conflict.
Today, the headlines suggest we may once again be standing at a pivotal moment, not just geopolitically, but economically. Because what’s happening overseas doesn’t stay overseas. It affects your wallet, your savings, and your financial future.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
The Iranian Revolution didn’t just alter political alliances, it reshaped global markets. When the Ayatollah seized power, Iran transitioned from a pro-Western economic partner to a destabilizing force in the Middle East. The consequences have played out over decades, influencing energy markets, military conflicts, and international trade.
Today, Iran remains deeply connected to global economic tensions. Its actions in critical regions like the Strait of Hormuz continue to threaten oil supply chains, creating ripple effects that impact fuel prices and inflation worldwide. This is not abstract policy. It is a direct factor in what Americans pay at the pump and the grocery store.
Whenever instability rises in the Middle East, oil markets react quickly. Even the threat of disruption can drive prices upward. Short-term spikes in oil prices often translate into broader inflationary pressure. Transportation costs increase. Manufacturing expenses rise. Consumers ultimately bear the burden.
Inflation, in many ways, acts like a hidden tax. It erodes purchasing power and places the greatest strain on working families trying to make ends meet. Yet history also shows that markets adjust. Supply chains adapt. Strategic reserves are deployed. While volatility creates short-term challenges, it can also lead to long-term corrections.
Understanding that balance is essential for wise financial decision-making.
What appears chaotic on the surface often has deeper strategic implications. Major geopolitical moves rarely exist in isolation. Actions involving Iran, energy markets, and global trade frequently intersect with broader economic competition, particularly involving nations like China and Russia.
From an economic standpoint, these dynamics influence currency strength, trade flows, and investment patterns. For example, shifts in oil availability can reshape global alliances and force major economies to adjust their strategies. This is where economic policy and national security converge. Decisions made on the world stage carry real consequences for everyday people, underscoring the importance of wisdom and long-term thinking.
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While governments play a role in stabilizing markets, lasting financial security cannot depend solely on policy decisions. Economic systems are inherently vulnerable to disruption—whether through conflict, debt, or mismanagement. That reality highlights the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own financial future.
Preparation, discipline, and careful planning become essential in times like these. One of the most important lessons from economic volatility is the importance of sound money. Over time, the U.S. dollar has lost significant purchasing power. While it remains the world’s dominant currency, it is not immune to inflation or policy-driven devaluation.
That reality has led to renewed interest in alternatives such as gold and silver. In recent years, several states have taken steps to recognize precious metals as legal tender, opening the door for what is often called transactional gold. This allows individuals not only to hold gold, but to use it as a functional form of money.
It is not about abandoning the dollar. It is about creating stability and flexibility in an uncertain world.
Financial uncertainty often leads to reactive decisions. But reaction is not a strategy.
Periods of volatility call for a steady, disciplined approach to managing money. That includes thoughtful decisions about saving, spending, and investing, even when conditions feel unpredictable. It also means keeping a long-term perspective—recognizing that short-term disruptions are part of broader economic cycles.
Despite the challenges, there is reason for cautious optimism. Global markets are resilient. Innovation continues to drive productivity. And even in times of conflict, opportunities emerge for those who are prepared.
Energy markets may stabilize. Supply chains may improve. New technologies may reshape economic growth in ways we are only beginning to understand. At the same time, risks remain. Debt levels, geopolitical tensions, and currency volatility all require careful attention. Navigating this environment requires both awareness and action.
The situation in Iran is more than a geopolitical story. It is part of a larger narrative about how global events shape economic realities. For individuals and families, the takeaway is clear: financial stewardship matters more than ever.
In a world where markets can shift overnight, building a strong financial foundation, grounded in discipline, preparation, and wise decision-making, is essential for long-term stability.
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Kevin Freeman analyzes Iran, oil markets, and global tensions—and what they mean for inflation, financial stability, and your money.
Americans are thinking about money more than ever before, and for good reason. A recent study shows the average person spends hours each day worrying about finances, from rising costs to paying bills. That constant pressure reflects something deeper than economics. It reveals a system under strain, and a culture searching for answers.
But what if the answer isn’t just financial strategy? What if it’s spiritual? From my perspective, after more than four decades in the financial world, the real issue isn’t just money. It’s how we think about money. And that’s where Christian economics offers clarity in a time of confusion.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
Money has always been a central concern in human life, but today it feels overwhelming. Families are navigating inflation, debt, and uncertainty about the future. It’s no surprise that financial stress consumes so much mental energy. Yet Scripture makes something very clear: money itself is not the problem. The issue is the relationship we have with it.
Money is a tool, useful, necessary, and powerful. But when it becomes the focus of our trust, it leads to fear, anxiety, and poor decision-making. That’s why biblical teaching consistently redirects our attention away from money and back toward God. Christian economics starts with that foundation: money is a resource entrusted to us, not something to be worshiped.
There’s a timeless principle that captures the essence of biblical financial wisdom. It comes from the teachings of John Wesley, who summarized money management in three simple actions: earn, save, and give.
At first glance, it sounds almost too simple. But in practice, it reshapes everything. Earning reflects diligence and productivity. Saving reflects discipline and foresight. Giving reflects generosity and trust. Most people today focus heavily on earning and worrying. Far fewer think intentionally about giving. Yet Christian economics places generosity at the center of financial life, not the margins. That shift alone can transform how individuals and families approach money.
At the heart of Christian economics is the concept of stewardship. Everything we have ultimately belongs to God. That includes income, savings, investments, and opportunities. The question is not whether we own these things, but how we manage them.
This perspective changes how we approach financial decisions. It reframes spending, saving, and investing as acts of responsibility rather than personal entitlement. Even investing takes on new meaning. It’s no longer just about maximizing returns, it’s about aligning resources with values. That raises an important question: where is your money actually going?
In today’s financial markets, investors often unknowingly support companies and causes that conflict with their beliefs. That’s where biblically responsible investing comes into focus. This approach evaluates investments not only on financial performance, but also on alignment with biblical values. Ownership matters. When you invest in a company, you become a participant in its activities. That reality forces a deeper level of accountability.
Christian economics doesn’t reject investing. In fact, Scripture encourages wise investment and growth. But it challenges believers to invest in ways that reflect integrity and conviction. It’s not just about avoiding harm, it’s about actively supporting what is good. One of the most common concerns people have is whether it’s possible to invest responsibly without sacrificing returns. The answer is yes, but it requires intentionality.
Today, there are tools, research platforms, and financial resources designed to help individuals evaluate companies through both financial and ethical lenses. This includes analyzing business practices, partnerships, and broader influence. The goal is not perfection, but alignment.
Christian economics calls for wisdom in navigating a complex financial system, balancing practical knowledge with spiritual conviction.
A growing number of young Americans are questioning capitalism and showing interest in socialism. This shift reflects frustration with affordability, opportunity, and economic inequality. But there’s a deeper issue at play.
When people lose sight of purpose, productivity loses meaning. Systems that promise provision without responsibility often remove the very incentives that drive growth, creativity, and fulfillment.
From a Christian economics perspective, work is not a burden, it is part of God’s design. Productivity brings purpose. Contribution brings dignity. History has shown that systems detached from these principles struggle to sustain hope, let alone prosperity.
The challenge today is helping the next generation rediscover that connection between faith, work, and opportunity. While cultural and philosophical shifts are important, there is also a very real economic threat looming over the country: the national debt.
At current levels, debt and deficit spending pose long-term risks that cannot be ignored. If left unchecked, they could lead to inflation, currency instability, and a loss of economic leadership. This is where Christian economics intersects with policy. Sound money, disciplined spending, and accountability are not just political ideas, they are moral ones.
A system built on endless debt ultimately shifts burdens to future generations. Stewardship requires a different path.
Despite the challenges, there is reason for optimism. Economic cycles shift. Policies change. Markets adjust. Even now, there are signs of price corrections in key sectors, offering some relief after years of rising costs.
More importantly, hope is not rooted in economic systems alone. Christian economics reminds us that while financial strategies matter, ultimate security does not come from markets, governments, or even gold. It comes from faith, discipline, and wise stewardship.
That doesn’t eliminate risk, but it provides a framework for navigating it. At the end of the day, every financial decision reflects a deeper belief system. How we earn, spend, save, and invest reveals what we value most.
Christian economics offers a path forward that integrates faith with financial reality. It doesn’t ignore the challenges of modern markets, it addresses them with timeless principles. In a world where money dominates attention and anxiety, that perspective is more relevant than ever.
The conversation around money is changing. Economic pressures are forcing people to ask harder questions about stability, purpose, and long-term security. Christian economics provides a framework that answers those questions with clarity. It calls for stewardship over consumption, purpose over fear, and alignment over compromise.
And in doing so, it offers something many Americans are searching for right now, not just financial strategy, but financial peace.
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Kevin Freeman explores Christian economics, biblical investing, and how faith shapes money decisions in today’s uncertain economy.
For years, I’ve warned that our monetary system is fundamentally unstable. While the U.S. dollar continues to function as a unit of account and a means of exchange, it is increasingly failing as a reliable store of value. Americans feel that reality every day through inflation and the erosion of their purchasing power.
Now, a significant shift is underway. Across the United States, a growing number of states are advancing legislation to restore gold and silver as transactional money. This movement is not theoretical, it is actively unfolding, and it reflects a deeper return to sound money principles rooted in both the Constitution and what many would recognize as Christian economics.
At its core, Christian economics emphasizes stewardship, honest weights and measures, and systems that protect individuals from unjust debasement of value. In many ways, the transactional gold movement aligns directly with those principles.
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Over the past year, momentum has accelerated in ways few anticipated. States including Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri have passed legislation recognizing gold and silver as legal tender. These actions are not symbolic gestures; they represent the groundwork for a parallel monetary system that operates alongside the dollar.
The combined economic influence of these states is substantial. If viewed collectively, they would represent one of the largest economic blocs in the world. At the same time, additional states such as Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Minnesota are exploring similar measures, signaling that this movement is rapidly expanding. What began as a niche policy discussion has now entered the mainstream of economic debate.
Gold has served as money for thousands of years, yet in modern times it has often been dismissed as outdated. That narrative is beginning to shift. Even global financial institutions and central banks have increased their reliance on gold as a reserve asset, acknowledging its enduring value.
The definition of money remains straightforward. It must function as a unit of account, a medium of exchange, and a store of value. While the dollar performs adequately in pricing and transactions, its long-term stability has weakened. Gold, by contrast, has historically preserved value across generations. This reality resonates strongly within the framework of Christian economics, which prioritizes stability, fairness, and the preservation of value over time. Inflation, in contrast, can be viewed as a hidden tax that disproportionately harms those with the least financial flexibility.
The current movement is not centered on encouraging individuals to hoard gold. Instead, it aims to restore gold’s practical use in everyday commerce. Advancements in technology have made it possible to own fractional amounts of gold and transfer value instantly. This means individuals can save in gold incrementally and, when needed, use it in transactions much like they would use a debit card today.
This blending of ancient monetary principles with modern financial infrastructure represents a significant innovation. It allows gold to function not just as a passive investment, but as active, usable money.
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Although several states have passed enabling legislation, the transition to fully operational systems requires careful implementation. Establishing a transactional gold framework involves building infrastructure that ensures trust and reliability.
States must define standards for vaulting, verification, auditing, and insurance. These measures are often misunderstood as excessive oversight, but they are essential to creating a system where individuals and businesses can confidently accept gold in exchange for goods and services. In practice, these safeguards reflect the same principles found in Christian economics, ensuring honesty, transparency, and accountability in financial dealings.
As with any disruptive innovation, resistance has emerged. Some critics have characterized these efforts as government overreach, suggesting that states are attempting to control the gold market. In reality, participation in transactional gold systems is entirely voluntary. Individuals retain ownership of their gold, and private companies are expected to compete in providing services such as payment processing and storage. The role of the state is limited to establishing standards that allow the market to function effectively.
At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that certain segments of the gold industry have expressed concern. Traditional business models often rely on high margins and long-term storage rather than active use. A system that enables consumers to spend gold introduces new dynamics, including increased transparency and competition.
From a broader perspective, however, expanding access and usability aligns with both free-market principles and the ethical considerations emphasized in Christian economics.
One of the most compelling drivers behind this movement is the need to protect against inflation. As the money supply expands, the value of each dollar declines, reducing the purchasing power of savings and wages. Transactional gold offers an alternative that is inherently resistant to such debasement. It allows individuals to store value in a form that cannot be created at will.
This concept closely mirrors the idea of stewardship found in Christian economics. Individuals are called to manage resources wisely, preserving value for the future rather than allowing it to be diminished through systemic instability. Importantly, modern systems make gold accessible to a much broader audience. Individuals no longer need to make large purchases to participate. Incremental savings in gold are now feasible, opening the door for wider adoption.
The legal foundation for this movement is deeply rooted in American history. The Constitution explicitly recognizes gold and silver as money, granting states the authority to incorporate them into their financial systems. For decades, this provision has been largely overlooked. Today, states are revisiting it as they seek to provide alternatives to a purely fiat-based system.
This return to constitutional money is not merely a legal exercise. It reflects a broader desire to restore trust, discipline, and long-term stability to the financial system.
The transactional gold movement is still in its early stages, but its trajectory is clear. Implementation efforts are advancing, with some states moving more quickly than others to establish operational systems. As infrastructure develops and awareness grows, adoption is likely to increase. The combination of economic pressure, technological capability, and philosophical alignment with principles like Christian economics creates a powerful foundation for continued expansion.
What is taking place today is more than a policy trend. It is the beginning of a fundamental shift in how Americans think about money. Gold is re-emerging not simply as an investment, but as a viable medium of exchange grounded in stability and trust. This movement reflects a convergence of constitutional authority, free-market innovation, and the enduring principles of Christian economics.
In an era defined by uncertainty, that combination may prove to be exactly what many Americans have been seeking.
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Discover how gold is becoming money again across U.S. states and how Christian economics supports financial stability and freedom.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, I believe we are standing at a crossroads. Not just politically or economically, but spiritually. At a time when division dominates headlines and uncertainty shapes the national conversation, a movement called “America Reads the Bible” is offering a different path forward, one rooted not in policy, but in Scripture.
This initiative, centered on the public reading of God’s Word, is not just another event. It is a call to return to the foundation that has sustained nations and transformed lives for generations.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
When I look at the challenges facing America today, I’m reminded of the account of King Josiah in 2 Chronicles 34. For years, I misunderstood that story. Like many, I imagined a young boy stumbling upon Scripture by accident. But the truth is far more powerful.
Josiah was 26 years old when he made the deliberate decision to restore the temple. He didn’t begin with political reform, he began with the heart. He redirected resources, removed idols, and restored what had been neglected. Only then was the Book of the Law discovered and read publicly. That moment changed everything for the nation.
The order matters. When the people got their priorities right, especially regarding money and worship, the Word of God resurfaced, and transformation followed.
Today, I see a similar opportunity unfolding through “America Reads the Bible.” This unprecedented effort will bring together nearly 500 individuals from across the country to read the entire Bible aloud over the course of one week.
Leaders from government, media, ministry, and everyday life will participate, representing a broad cross-section of America. The readings will be livestreamed nationwide, allowing families, churches, and communities to join in real time. This is not about personalities or platforms. It is about the power of God’s Word being spoken, heard, and received.
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We often talk about revival in the church, and that is important. Revival is personal, it begins when individuals return to God with humility and repentance. But what America needs right now is more than revival. We need an awakening.
Awakening is what happens when personal transformation spills over into the culture. It is when faith moves beyond private belief and begins to shape communities, institutions, and ultimately, the nation itself. Throughout history, awakenings have followed the widespread proclamation of Scripture. When people hear the Word of God, something changes. Faith rises. Truth becomes clear. Lives begin to align with something greater than themselves.
This movement also highlights something I have emphasized for years: faith requires action. As believers, we are called not only to pray, but to engage, to be salt and light in every area of life. That includes how we steward our responsibilities as citizens.
Through efforts like Christians Engaged, we are encouraging people to take that responsibility seriously. It’s not about politics for its own sake. It’s about preserving the freedom to live out our faith and ensuring that truth continues to have a voice in the public square.
Too often, people of faith have stepped back, while others have stepped forward with competing worldviews. That imbalance has consequences.The timing of this initiative is not accidental. As we prepare to mark 250 years as a nation, we have an opportunity to reflect on who we are and where we are headed.
Our founders understood the importance of faith and moral responsibility. Even those who were not deeply religious recognized that liberty could not survive without virtue. “America Reads the Bible” is a reminder of that truth. It is a call to return—not to the past, but to the principles that made this nation strong in the first place.
This is not an event reserved for a select few. It is an open invitation. You can participate from your home, your church, or your workplace. You can listen, reflect, and allow the Word of God to speak into your life in a fresh way.
Because ultimately, national change begins with personal transformation. It begins when individuals choose to engage with truth and live it out daily. I believe we are witnessing the early stages of something significant. Whether it becomes a true national awakening will depend on how we respond.
The opportunity is in front of us. The question is whether we will take it. If history has shown us anything, it’s this: when a people return to God’s Word, everything changes.
Watch this full episode on Pirate Money Radio, streaming now on the Real Life Network.
Can’t make it to Washington, D.C.? You can still be part of “America Reads the Bible.” Join the nationwide livestream April 18–25 and experience the power of Scripture from wherever you are. Gather your family, church, or community and take part in this historic moment as God’s Word is read across the nation.
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Kevin Freeman explores how America Reads the Bible could spark a national awakening through public Scripture reading and Christian engagement.
Faith is strengthened through consistent exposure to God’s Word, thoughtful study, and intentional choices about what shapes our thinking. For many believers, that process once revolved solely around weekly church attendance and personal Bible study. Today, however, digital media plays a significant role in how people learn, reflect, and grow.
That reality raises an important question: How does streaming faith-based content actually strengthen faith? When used intentionally, Christian streaming can become a meaningful support for spiritual growth, reinforcing biblical truth, encouraging perseverance, and helping believers stay anchored in Scripture throughout the week.
Spiritual growth rarely happens through isolated experiences. It is shaped over time through repeated engagement with truth. Faith-based streaming helps support that consistency by making biblical teaching readily available.
Instead of relying only on a single sermon each week, believers can:
This steady rhythm matters. When God’s Word becomes part of daily life—rather than something accessed only occasionally—faith deepens naturally.
The messages people consume daily shape how they interpret the world. News, entertainment, and social media often present values that conflict with Scripture. Faith-based streaming provides an alternative voice rooted in biblical truth rather than cultural pressure.
Christian platforms offer content that:
Programs such as The Jack Hibbs Podcast, The Prophecy Pros, and worldview-focused documentaries on Real Life Network help viewers process complex issues without losing their biblical grounding.
Faith grows stronger when understanding grows deeper. Many believers struggle not because they lack sincerity, but because they feel unsure how to answer hard questions—whether their own or those raised by others.
Faith-based streaming addresses this need by offering apologetics and teaching that strengthen confidence in Scripture. On Real Life Network, programs like Cross-Examined with Frank Turek, The Creation Today Show, and In Depth Apologetics for Kids help viewers think clearly about faith, science, history, and truth.
When believers understand why they believe what they believe, their faith becomes steadier and more resilient.
One of the most powerful ways faith is strengthened is through testimony. Seeing how God works in the lives of others encourages perseverance during personal trials.
Faith-based documentaries and testimonies remind viewers that:
Documentaries such as Louis Zamperini, Billy Graham: A Life Remembered, The Listening Road, and The Call provide real-life examples of faith lived out under pressure. These stories encourage viewers to remain faithful even when growth feels slow or unseen.
Faith is not meant to grow in isolation. While streaming is often viewed as an individual activity, it can become a shared experience that strengthens relationships and spiritual growth.
Families might:
Small groups often use streaming content as a discussion starter, breaking longer programs into manageable segments. When faith-based content leads to conversation, it moves from passive viewing to active discipleship.
Real Life Network’s wide range of kids’ programming, sermons, podcasts, and documentaries makes it easier for families and groups to engage together across age levels.
Modern life is filled with competing voices. Many believers find that constant exposure to negative or distracting media weakens focus, peace, and clarity. Choosing faith-based streaming helps create a healthier media environment.
By intentionally replacing some entertainment with Christian content, viewers often experience:
This isn’t about withdrawing from the world, but about choosing what shapes the heart and mind most consistently.
One reason streaming strengthens faith is accessibility. Sermons, teaching series, and devotionals are no longer tied to a specific place or time. This removes barriers that often interrupt spiritual growth.
Streaming allows believers to:
Platforms like Real Life Network make this access simple, offering biblically grounded content across devices so faith remains part of everyday life.
Real Life Network exists to provide content that encourages believers and strengthens faith without unnecessary distractions. Its curated library includes:
RLN focuses on content designed to support growth, understanding, and encouragement.
Faith is strengthened when believers remain rooted in God’s Word, encouraged by truth, and supported by wise teaching. Faith-based streaming, when used thoughtfully, helps reinforce those foundations, making biblical content accessible, consistent, and relevant to everyday life.
It is not a replacement for Scripture, prayer, or community. But it is a valuable tool that helps faith grow steadily in a world full of competing voices.
Explore faith-strengthening content anytime on Real Life Network.
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Discover how faith-based streaming strengthens biblical worldview, deepens understanding of Scripture, and helps believers grow through consistent exposure to God’s Word, teaching, and real-life testimonies.
On April 6, 1990, I wrote in my Bible the following words: “It’s nice to be back. I’ve been gone too long — only through the power and love of Jesus I have come back,” and I signed it “Walt,” a remarkable occurrence after falsely identifying as a woman for eight years.
My experience offers living proof of the power of the gospel to transform a life seemingly lost in an alternate “trans” identity, and the important role the church plays in restoration.
The Bible says the body is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul writes: “Do you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” The good news is that no matter what your past looks like, or what you may have done to your body, redemption awaits you in the arms of Jesus, and God’s Spirit who dwells in you will restore you.
When I was identifying as a “transgender woman,” I was mentally unstable and unable to comprehend the lifelong consequences of using cross-sex hormones and surgery to change my appearance to that of a woman. Even worse, I was drinking to excess. At my initial appointment with “gender” therapist, Dr. Paul Walker, I was intoxicated, yet he quickly diagnosed me with gender dysphoria, a diagnosis that never should have happened. Following his advice, I underwent gender surgery in 1983 at the age of 42 and began my pretense of presenting in life as a woman.
I had been living what I see now was a life of sin but, to my amazement, my messy life was not too big for Jesus. Jesus did not turn His back on me.
Jesus preserved me through despair and attempted suicide, led me to a church and sobriety, and provided a home and a strong support team. The relationships with leaders at church cemented my foundation in Christ and, in time, gave me the courage to seek counseling to confront the childhood traumas that had caused me to seek an alternate identity.
The turning point occurred during a prayer with a counselor several years into my sobriety in a personal encounter with Jesus I will never forget. My lord and savior Jesus appeared to me, held me in His arms, and said, “You are now safe with me forever.” That day, I was born again in Christ and trusted He would put me on the path to full restoration as Walt. That’s when I wrote it in my Bible and signed “Walt.”
The church’s basic approach to reaching anyone, no matter what the issue, starts with welcoming love and standing for truth and is deeply rooted in compassion and concern for both the needs of the person and the congregation.
Reaching out to help an adult in your congregation who is presenting as the opposite gender requires building a relationship with that person. It may require a pastor or elder to have a one-on-one conversation first to determine if the individual is willing to receive spiritual guidance. You can learn a great deal in that conversation, and it will help in knowing if and how to provide support and boundaries.
In my case, my needs were great on many levels — financial, spiritual, emotional, legal, psychological — for an extended period. My pastor suggested I chronicle them in a regular note to the leadership so they could pray and provide. This “note” over time became a weekly prayer letter keeping the leadership in tune with my journey, at times celebrating the triumphs and at other times, carrying my burdens. The pastor gathered a strong support team of two or three mentors to encourage me with consistent Bible study and contact on the phone, over meals or coffee. These spiritually mature people were the very hands and feet of Jesus, showing me care and providing accountability.
In my life, the restoration process was messy for me and the church, and it can be messy for the church today. But, oh, it is so worth the effort to see God work. Redemption through Jesus has given me peace, healing, freedom, and victory. This year I celebrate 40 years of sobriety and 35 years in my right identity.
You can see why I strongly oppose cross-sex hormones and surgery as “treatment” for identity distress. I came to Jesus and learned hormones and surgical procedures are not, and never have been, medically effective in changing a man into a woman or a woman into a man, a boy into a girl or a girl into a boy. Medical practitioners who promote this “treatment” are imposing great harm, especially on children, and lawmakers are stepping up.
The proposed Chloe Cole Act will prevent doctors and hospitals from introducing wrong-sex hormones into bloodstreams of children and removing healthy body parts in pursuit of a false identity.
The life-long harmful effects of hormone therapies and radical surgeries don’t stop at the age of 19; sadly, I can attest to that. Our lawmakers should start now to consider laws that will protect adults as well.
The church played an enormous role in my restoration even though resources about alternate identities were non-existent so many years ago. To support people in the congregation who are struggling with their biological sex, it’s important for the church, especially the leadership, to be equipped with accurate information.
To combat non-biblical misinformation and to teach Christians how to apply God’s word to helping trans-identifying people, Dr. Jennifer Bauwens and I applied our expertise and experiences in trauma and gender distress to write the book, “Embracing God’s Design.”
Written for the church, it presents an easy-to-read understanding of the topic from the Christian and psychological perspectives, reveals what drives adults or children to identify this way, chronicles the harms inflicted by “gender” clinics, and shares how Christians can minister to them and their families.
I give all the glory to Jesus for my new redeemed life “only through the power and love of Jesus.” I had no idea on that day of April 6, 1990, what redemption would look like, but 35 years later I do understand redemption is about the Lord fulfilling His promises. For believers, Christ’s redemptive work fulfills every divine promise made for our salvation and restoration. What is so beautiful is it’s yours for the asking.
So come to Jesus. Get your redemption started on Easter Sunday 2026.
For more information on how the church can respond, see the FRC resource, “Embracing God’s Design.”
You can support the Chloe Cole Act by contacting your members of Congress here.
This article was originally written by Walt Heyer and published on The Washington Stand. For more content like this, visit the Real Life Network.
A powerful testimony of how Jesus used the local church, God's Word, and discipleship to bring redemption, healing, and identity restoration to someone who once lived a transgender life.
Christian media is in the middle of a noticeable shift. For decades, faith-based television networks shaped how sermons, worship services, and Christian programming reached homes. Viewers tuned in at set times, flipped channels, and built routines around broadcast schedules. Today, however, many believers access sermons and Christian content on phones, tablets, and smart TVs on demand.
That change has prompted an important question: Will Christian streaming platforms eventually replace traditional Christian TV channels?
The short answer is no, not entirely. But the relationship between the two is changing in meaningful ways.
Christian streaming platforms have expanded rapidly for the same reasons secular streaming has grown: convenience, flexibility, and accessibility. Viewers no longer have to plan their day around a broadcast schedule. Instead, they can watch content when and where it fits their life.
Streaming platforms allow believers to:
For younger viewers and busy families, this flexibility is especially appealing. Many are accustomed to on-demand media and naturally expect the same from faith-based content.
Despite the growth of streaming, traditional Christian television remains valuable. Broadcast TV offers a sense of structure and familiarity that many viewers still appreciate. For some households—particularly older viewers or those without reliable internet—television remains the most accessible option.
Christian TV channels continue to provide:
In many homes, Christian television still plays a central role, especially during mornings, evenings, or specific teaching blocks.
Rather than replacing Christian TV, streaming platforms are expanding how Christian content is delivered. Many ministries now use both broadcast and streaming to reach different audiences in different ways.
Streaming excels at depth and personalization. Viewers can select specific sermons, documentaries, kids’ programs, or apologetics resources rather than watching whatever happens to be on at the moment. This empowers believers to take a more active role in their spiritual growth.
Traditional TV, by contrast, excels at reach and simplicity. It brings content into homes without requiring app downloads, logins, or searching.
These strengths are complementary, not competitive.
One of the biggest shifts isn’t technological; it’s behavioral. Viewers are increasingly mixing platforms. A family might watch a Christian TV channel in the morning, stream a sermon later in the week, and let kids watch faith-based cartoons on a tablet in the evening.
This blended approach reflects how people already consume media in other areas of life. Music, news, and entertainment are no longer tied to a single format. Christian media is following the same pattern.
As a result, ministries that embrace both broadcast and streaming tend to reach the widest audience.
Streaming platforms bring several advantages that traditional TV struggles to match.
First, streaming allows for on-demand discipleship. Sermons, teaching series, and documentaries remain available long after they air. Viewers can pause, rewind, or revisit content as needed.
Second, streaming supports family-specific content. Parents can choose age-appropriate programming for children while adults explore teaching or apologetics resources. Everything lives in one place rather than scattered across schedules.
Third, streaming encourages discovery. Viewers often find new teachers, ministries, or topics they wouldn’t encounter on a single TV channel.
Platforms like Real Life Network are designed with this flexibility in mind, offering sermons, podcasts, documentaries, kids’ programming, and worldview content in a single, curated environment.
Many traditional Christian networks recognize these changes and are adapting rather than resisting them. Some now offer:
This evolution shows that the future isn’t an either-or decision. It’s a layered approach where broadcast and streaming work together.
Real Life Network represents how Christian streaming platforms complement traditional TV by filling gaps that broadcast schedules can’t. RLN offers:
Rather than replacing Christian television, RLN provides an alternative entry point—especially for viewers who prefer digital access or want content tailored to their needs.
For churches and ministries, platforms like RLN also extend the lifespan of teaching. A sermon or documentary doesn’t disappear after airing; it remains available for ongoing use in homes, small groups, and personal study.
The most likely future is coexistence, not replacement. Christian TV channels will continue serving audiences who value structure and familiarity. Streaming platforms will continue growing among viewers who want flexibility and depth.
Together, they create a broader ecosystem—one that reaches more people, in more ways, at more moments in life.
This diversity strengthens Christian media rather than weakening it. It allows the message of Scripture to reach people wherever they are, through whatever format they’re most comfortable using.
Christian streaming platforms are not replacing traditional Christian TV, but they are reshaping how faith-based content is accessed and experienced. As viewing habits evolve, both models play an important role in sharing biblical teaching, encouraging believers, and supporting families.
For viewers seeking on-demand access to sermons, documentaries, podcasts, and family-safe programming, Christian streaming platforms offer a valuable complement to traditional television.
Explore streaming-based Christian content anytime on Real Life Network.
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Introduced in September of 2025, the Chloe Cole Act, named for the young woman who bravely speaks out against “gender affirming care,” would prohibit health care providers, clinics, and hospitals from carrying out or facilitating “gender transition” procedures on minors, and allow those harmed to bring suit with an extended statute of limitations of 25 years beyond the minor’s 18th birthday.
This important bill needs to be passed and signed into law. I began raising awareness about protecting trans-identifying children in 2015 from medical experimentation, and I’m grateful that this bill has been proposed. Prohibiting these procedures is exactly what needs to be done.
Furthermore, by allowing patients to sue practitioners for damages up to 25 years later, this legislation will cause health care professionals to have “skin in the game” and decide whether carrying out or facilitating “gender transition” for minors is worth the risk to them personally and professionally.
Chloe Cole and I have a lot in common in advocating for the passage of this bill.
Sadly, both Chloe and I experienced distress as minors and were both diagnosed with gender dysphoria, given cross-sex hormones, and had healthy body parts surgically removed to our lasting regret. The gender therapists, clinics, and hospitals from which we sought care misled each of us into thinking gender therapies were the only answer to relieve our distress. Both of us have emphasized our early identity distress stemmed from deeper issues.
Chloe Cole started puberty blockers at age 13 and underwent a double mastectomy at 15 — only to return to identifying as the woman God designed her to be in her late teens. Chloe reported her childhood at times was challenging as the youngest of five children, and at an early age she exhibited signs of autism and ADHD but was not officially diagnosed until her late teens. She cites the onset of early puberty, social media influence, and mental health struggles for warping her thinking and making her vulnerable to medical intervention.
My struggle began early in childhood after being cross-dressed at the hands of my grandmother at the age of four and being sexually abused by a family member. As a teen, I secretly cross-dressed and identified as a female at age 13. I continued struggling with my identity, starting on female hormones at the age of 35 in 1976, and started feminizing surgeries on my body. At the age of 42, after only two visits, my gender therapist advised me that surgery would relieve my gender distress, so I underwent what was called “sex change surgery.” After eight years identifying as a woman, with the help of psychotherapy, I began the journey back to restoring my God-given male identity.
Both Chloe and I found that hormones and surgeries are not effective in resolving early childhood distress that underlies dysphoria.
Our common ground has us publicly stepping forward to tell our personal stories of having needlessly suffered the unimaginable and horrific consequences of using surgeries and hormones to alter perfectly healthy bodies into resembling the opposite sex, so-called “gender affirming care.” It’s not care at all, but medical malpractice, and the lawsuits are coming.
We speak out and advocate for laws to end the practice of transgender medical interventions, particularly for minors, because they inflict egregious harm and dehumanize a person’s ability to function as God designed. We testify in legislative hearings, along with so many other advocates for protecting children, and clarify that gender transition is often driven by social influence, trauma, and inadequate mental health care.
I started speaking out about protecting kids from hormones in 2009 on a Canadian television show called “16x9,” Canada’s version of “60 Minutes.” In the years since, I’ve written books and articles, participated with organizations, such as Alliance Defending Freedom and the Heritage Foundation, bringing doctors, parents, and regretters to the same table to shed light on the harms being perpetuated by practitioners of “gender medicine.” I started meeting with legislators on Capitol Hill in D.C. in 2019 with Tony Perkins of Family Research Council and traveling to individual states to testify to the harms and to advocate for laws to prohibit hormones and surgery for trans-identifying children.
Chloe Cole started testifying to legislators at the young age of 17 and has been an extremely effective voice for opening people’s eyes to the widespread harms.
Testimonies from Chloe, myself, and many others confirm that the harmful effects of hormones and surgical procedures for the treatment of gender dysphoria go far beyond the teen years; the harm to bodies, in fact, is often permanent.
Thank God for the many former trans-identifying people, parents, lawmakers, pastors, medical doctors, educators, athletes, podcasters, and others who have stood for years, and are standing now, for truth and against this evil deception.
You can too. Contact your members of Congress here. For more information on how the church can respond, see the FRC resource, “Embracing God’s Design.”
This article was originally written by Walt Heyer and published on The Washington Stand. You can also find more content like this on the Real Life Network.
Two individuals who regret their gender transitions share their stories and find common ground in advocating for stronger protections for children, warning about the long-term consequences of medical interventions at a young age.
Let me begin by saying that marriage is noble, honorable, and beautiful. It is biblical. It is foundational to functioning societies. God created marriage and loves it. The very concept of marriage is reflective of His plan of redemption for us: Jesus, the bridegroom, coming for and uniting with His bride, the Church.
But the concept was never the point. That is, when we, the Church, prioritize marriage over complete love and obedience to God, we miss the point (Christ Himself) and accidentally create an idol.
In the young, Christian conservative movement right now, the popular mantra is, “Just get married!” And that’s great! If it is the Lord’s will for you to get married to a specific person He’s placed in your life, at a specific time. If building a family is how He’s calling you to build His Kingdom in this season, then yes! Get married. That’s beautiful.
The reality is that this rally cry, “Just get married!” often echoes through rooms full of young, Christian women who desperately want to get married. The message may be novel or challenging in secular spaces, but you don’t have to tell most Christian women twice–that’s all they want.
And that’s the problem.
I interact with many, many Christian women ages 18-35 (more or less) who want nothing more than to get married.
But I want them to want so much more than that: I want them to want to serve God, wholeheartedly, wherever He has them. Married or not married, I want them to be desperate to be at the feet of Jesus; not desperate for a husband.
If that seems simple, unfortunately, it’s not. All my life, I’ve been subliminally taught in Christian circles that the highest good I can achieve as a Christian woman is to be a wife and mother–again, both very beautiful, godly roles.
But when marriage became the chief aim of my life, I lost sight of Jesus.
I was so focused on marriage that I forgot to focus on my Savior in whatever He had for me–and my life might have looked very different if He hadn’t rescued me from my own desire that, when prioritized over Him, were beautiful dreams I had let become ugly idols.
As a 25-year-old who grew up in the church, my game plan from a very early age was to graduate high school, graduate college, get married to my high school sweetheart, have babies, get a dog, a house, and voilà! The American Dream. I would finally be fulfilled then, just like they said.
It was a good plan. But it wasn’t God’s plan for my life–not just like that, anyway.
At the end of 2020, God redirected the trajectory of my entire life, calling me into ministry at the intersection of faith, culture, and politics (what became my life’s work at Counteract USA), and subsequently called me to break up with my high school sweetheart of five and a half years–a nice, Christian guy.
It was unfathomable, and I didn’t want to do it. As a 20-year-old Christian woman I thought I was throwing everything away if I broke up with the guy I planned to marry. I was (and am) so young, but it really felt like the end of the world.
I made every excuse I could to God. I bargained. I pleaded. I wanted to be married. I knew God was calling me into this ministry of faith, culture, and politics, and I realized that my boyfriend wasn’t called into that same ministry… But I wanted both. To have my cake and eat it, too.
But I learned the hard way that when you’re called to Nineveh, you can only sail on ships to Tarsus for so long before things really get miserable and you have to abandon ship.
So I abandoned ship. I surrendered: I broke up with my boyfriend, switched my major, and entered into 2021 with a completely blank slate. I was in a “Here I am, Lord. Send me” season.
And it was in this season that God began to inaugurate me into my calling. When I surrendered (painfully, and through many, many tears) my relationship with my boyfriend to the Lord, my focus reoriented on Him, and I was able to discern that He was calling me to equip my generation of Christians to apply Biblical truth to cultural and political conversations.
Six months after my breakup, God gave me the vision for the ministry that has become my passion, and Counteract USA was born.
Nearly five years later, I have witnessed countless miracles, where God has emboldened a Gen Z Christian in their faith, called a believer to get involved in politics, or encouraged a young adult to share the gospel at their local coffee shop through this ministry. It’s humbling. I am in awe of the Holy Spirit’s work.
And I know I wouldn’t have the front row seat to this that I do today if I had “just” married my high school sweetheart.
I’m 25 now. And I hope to be married one day–but I want to marry someone I’m on-mission with, whether my mission continues to Counteract USA or my home becomes my mission field.
In my admittedly limited experience, the Lord has taught me that as much as I value the gift of marriage and family, I must be vigilant to ensure that I am rightly ordering my affections, seeking the will of God over even my most righteous desires.
Marriage is beautiful, but it isn’t everything.
I want to want Jesus over everything, and encourage others to do the same–because He is all in all. He is everything.
Abigail DeJarnatt, a 25-year-old single Christian woman who works closely with young women in ministry, reflects on how the desire for marriage—while good and biblical—can become disordered when it replaces wholehearted devotion to Christ.
When someone hears “Christian documentary,” they may picture a narrow niche or a low-budget production. In reality, faith-based documentaries span a wide range of topics and styles: Bible history, creation and science, cultural commentary, evangelism, testimony, missions, and biographies of notable Christian leaders.
They also meet different needs. Some help answer hard questions. Some provide historical context for Scripture. Some explore the spiritual challenges of the modern world. Others put a human face on suffering, perseverance, and redemption.
Below are several faith-based documentaries available on Real Life Network (RLN), along with a few ways to choose the right one for your family, your small group, or your own viewing. If you are searching for free Christian documentaries, this list is a strong place to start.
A faith-based documentary is usually marked by at least one of these qualities:
Not every film will fit every viewer. Some are best for adults. Some are ideal for families. Some work best as a multi-week small group series, especially when the documentary is divided into sessions or naturally breaks into chapters.
This short documentary-style devotional tour follows Franklin Graham and his daughter Cissie through key locations in Israel, connecting places with biblical stories. It’s filmed on location and designed to help Scripture feel more tangible.
Great for: families, new believers, small groups wanting a lighter week
Try this discussion prompt: What Bible story felt “more real” after seeing the location?
Jerusalem is often portrayed solely as a place of conflict, but The Eye of the Storm invites viewers to see a fuller picture. Hosted by Isabel Brown, this documentary introduces audiences to the people of Jerusalem—men and women from diverse backgrounds who have learned to live with resilience, cooperation, and hope amid a complex history.
By looking beyond headlines, the film offers a thoughtful perspective on why Jerusalem remains central not only to global conversation, but to biblical history and faith.
Great for: adults, students, worldview discussions, and Holy Land interest groups
Try this discussion prompt: How does understanding the people behind the headlines reshape the way we think about Jerusalem’s role in history and faith?
This film presents a young-earth creation perspective and features interviews with a number of creationist speakers while arguing that Genesis describes real history. It has drawn criticism for presenting views that conflict with mainstream scientific consensus, so it’s great material for thoughtful discussion.
Great for: apologetics-minded viewers, older teens with guidance, small groups that enjoy discussion
Try this discussion prompt: What claims were most convincing, and what questions still remain?
This documentary examines the Grand Canyon and argues that the evidence aligns with a global Flood framework. It is structured in two halves, with the second portion moving into a direct gospel presentation.
Great for: viewers interested in creation topics, groups wanting both science discussion and evangelistic emphasis
Try this discussion prompt: How should Christians think about creation discussions without turning them into personal attacks?
Truth Rising frames the present era as a pivotal cultural moment, using interviews and stories to examine faith, identity, morality, and the consequences of abandoning Scripture as a foundation.
A helpful companion is Truth Rising: The Study, which the official site (TruthRising.com) presents as a free small-group resource built around key themes (such as hope, truth, identity, and calling). If a group wants structure, this provides it.
Great for: small groups, parents of teens, worldview-focused discussions
Try this discussion prompt: What pressures shape the way truth is defined in everyday life?
The Great Global Reset examines global economic and political shifts through a biblical and historical lens, drawing attention to conversations taking place among world leaders and institutions such as the World Economic Forum.
Produced in partnership with Turning Point USA and hosted by Jack Posobiec, the documentary invites viewers to think critically about power, policy, and the future of society while encouraging discernment rooted in Scripture.
Great for: adults, groups that can discuss carefully and charitably
Try this discussion prompt: What does Scripture call believers to do when they feel anxious about world events?
The Call is a compelling documentary from Evangelism Explosion that explores what happens when the Great Commission becomes more than a program—it becomes the culture of the church. Rather than focusing on new strategies or methods, the film calls believers back to the heart of Jesus’ original mission.
Featuring Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, The Call highlights how everyday faithfulness and obedience can spark genuine spiritual renewal, reminding viewers that revival often begins quietly, one life at a time.
Great for: churches, leadership teams, small groups, and anyone passionate about evangelism
Try this discussion prompt: How does treating the Great Commission as an identity—not an activity—change the way we live out our faith?
This documentary traces Billy Graham’s life and ministry, from his early years to global influence. It is produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and has a 28-minute runtime.
Great for: all ages, church history nights, family viewing
Try this discussion prompt: What made Billy Graham’s message resonate across generations?
Produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, this documentary focuses especially on Zamperini’s life after WWII, including trauma, alcoholism, and the turning point connected to Billy Graham’s 1949 Los Angeles Crusade.
Great for: adults and older teens, testimony-focused nights
Try this discussion prompt: What does forgiveness look like when the wound is deep?
A documentary produced by the Christian History Institute presents the life of Billy Sunday, the former baseball player who became a major American evangelist in the early 20th century.
Great for: history lovers, leadership discussions, groups studying revival movements
Try this discussion prompt: What strengths and weaknesses often show up in celebrity-style ministry?
This docuseries follows Pastor Neil Tomba’s 33-day, 3,000-mile bicycle trip across the U.S., built around conversations with people from many backgrounds about faith and the questions of life. It’s an eight-part series.
Great for: groups that want bite-sized episodes, outreach-minded viewers
Try this discussion prompt: What question do you wish Christians asked non-believers more often?
A documentary becomes far more useful when it leads to conversation. Two easy approaches:
Option 1: One-night watch party
Option 2: Multi-week series
Choose a longer film or a docuseries and break it into 20–30 minute segments. Each week, cover:
A simple guiding verse for discussion nights is 1 Peter 3:15, which calls believers to be ready to give an answer with a right posture.
Faith-based documentaries can do more than fill time. They can help families choose better media, help groups talk about hard issues without panic, and help believers anchor their thinking in Scripture.
Explore documentary titles on Real Life Network and build a watchlist for your next family night or small group series.
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