Crosstalk Updates

Jan Markell founded Olive Tree Ministries in 1982. She has written 8 books and produced a dozen DVD's. She also writes for many periodicals and websites, and is host of the national radio show, "Understanding the Times".

The opening topic during the first half-hour dealt with a pink Ouija board game that was being marketed for girls by national toy retailer, Toys ‘R’ Us. This game, manufactured by toy giant, Hasbro, is well known for its divination style of play and therefore its ability to introduce players to the demonic realm.

Other topics covered Jan’s own past experiences with Ouija boards, the “learn to read” deception of Harry Potter, as well as the need for pastors to be aware of the details of youth/evangelism programs.

During the second half-hour, the discussion switches to the Stephanie Meyer “Twilight” series of youth fiction books. This latest occult phenomenon is based on a fictional vampire; a handsome young man who falls in love with a young woman who isn’t a vampire.

According to Jan, the series teaches mind-reading, levitation, shape-shifting, mediumship, super strength, super hearing and super speed, along with the ability to exist without food or sleep.

Continue reading "Vampire Fiction and
Pink Ouija Boards for Little Girls" »

Posted by Administrator at 04:24 PM | Permalink

Craig Parshall is the Senior Vice-President and General Counsel of the National Religious Broadcasters. He joined Vic Eliason to discuss new threats and issues to broadcasting and the Internet that people need to know about.

One of the powers of a president select the Chairman for the Federal Communications Commission, the government body that licenses and regulates broadcasters. President Obama wanted media reform and Craig feels regulations being proposed would give the government control of day-to-day programming decisions made by broadcasters. These proposals deal with areas listed below such as:

Localism—The localism concept is supposed to make certain that every broadcaster meets the news and information needs of their local community. The FCC proposed a rule that requires that at license renewal time, a station has to be able to prove that there’s enough local information being aired during the broadcast day. Unfortunately, the definition of what constitutes local news that meets community needs hasn’t been clearly defined.

Community Advisory Councils—In order to help define these needs, the FCC has suggested that every broadcaster be required to have a local advisory council that would meet with them on at least a quarterly basis. This council would suggest to a local broadcaster how to determine programming decisions. Those that would be a part of this would include every leader of every group in your community. That could be the local Muslim Imam, a local gay activist, an occult group representative, etc.

Music License Fees—In the past, song composers were given revenue based upon the amount of airplay their music received. Now the industry wants a royalty for performers as well. Craig noted, however, that the industry has admitted that much of that money wouldn’t go to the performers but to the music industry.

Internet—The FCC proposed an “Open Internet” proceeding in order to help establish formal regulations for everything that takes place on the Internet. The claim is that this is to protect the consumer so that the Internet stays open for equal access. This sounds fine until you realize that there’s a possibility that this will define what can and can’t be posted on the Internet.

Spectrum Space—The switch from analog to digital TV took away a significant amount of spectrum space from broadcasters in a method similar to the way eminent domain can remove land from landowners.

The remainder of the program featured callers and their thoughts concerning what Christian radio and the work of the NRB means to them.

Continue reading "Best of Crosstalk (First Aired February 1, 2010)" »

Posted by Administrator at 04:18 PM | Permalink

Jim Schneider cleared the news wire and presented the following stories for listener input:

--As reported on Crosstalk on February 3, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, now has a new worship area for followers of pagan, earth-centered religions. A large wooden cross was placed at this worship area; an act that has prompted an investigation by academy officials. Now a sergeant who is a self-described pagan is claiming that he and others are victims of a hate crime.
--Colin Powell has thrown his support behind the repealing of “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
--2 prominent veterans groups come out against repealing “Don’t ask, don’t tell.
--The Department of Defense to begin making the “morning after pill” available at all its hospitals and health clinics around the world.
--The president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Cecile Richards, will join the board of trustees of the Ford Foundation.
--The Florida Department of Health has once again suspended the medical license of late term abortionist James Pendegraft for two years.
--Jim presented an audio clip of comments from President Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast; comments that attempted to encourage a way back to civility.
--Illinois governor Pat Quinn found out that his running mate has a rap sheet that includes alleged domestic battery and tax evasion.
--Patrick Kennedy will have a challenge from a 3 term state representative, John Laughlin the II.
--John McCain faces a primary challenge from within his own party.

Continue reading "Open Mic Friday" »

Posted by Administrator at 04:16 PM | Permalink

Andy Gause is one of the most respected monetary historians and contemporary experts on the American and international banking systems. Andy publishes a newsletter called "The World of Money" and has authored two books.

Jim began this Crosstalk by mentioning that the share of the national debt by each U.S. citizen amounts to $40,000. Unfortunately, according to Andy, that’s just the bonded debt, the debt for which we already issued treasury bonds or treasury bills.

Then there’s the unfunded component which is more than double the existing number and includes Medicare, Social security and other outlying entitlement programs that are not yet funded. In fact, the 1.95 trillion increase that Congress just gave to themselves only covers that which is due and payable this year.

As Andy describes it, the federal deficit is the difference between what we bring in via tax revenue and what we pay out in any given year. So, according to the Obama budget, the U.S. has a tax income of about 1.6 trillion dollars. Approximately 900 billion alone is collected for Social Security taxes.

Balancing the 1.6 trillion dollar figure against the 3.6 trillion dollar budget means that there’s going to be a deficit of about 2 trillion that has to be made up. When you add these deficits together over a period of years, that’s the figure that makes up our total national debt.

How long can America continue to operate in a deficit/debt mode? Are there “storm clouds” we should be watching for? This is where Andy’s experience is helpful as he answers numerous questions for Crosstalk listeners including:

--What impact has currency injection had on the economy?
--Should we nationalize the Federal Reserve?
--Would everyone living within their means help or hurt the economy?
--How will the inheritance tax affect small businesses?
--Is there wisdom in investing a portion of your monetary assets in gold and silver coins?

Continue reading "What’s Ahead for America’s Economy in 2010?" »

Posted by Administrator at 04:51 PM | Permalink

Jim began this edition of Crosstalk by mentioning two legislative issues; one for listeners in South Dakota and one for listeners in Wisconsin.

As this Crosstalk began the South Dakota Senate was just going into session and at issue was Senate Bill-74. This bill would expand stem cell research on human embryos.

At issue in Wisconsin is Assembly Bill 653 regarding Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT). EPT would allow someone to obtain a prescription in addition to their infected partner who has been determined to have a sexually transmitted disease. They could obtain this prescription without having to be seen for a physical examination and in spite of the fact that the doctor knows nothing about their medical history.

Chris Slattery is founder of Expectant Mother Care, also known as EMC FrontLine Pregnancy Centers in New York.

Pro-abortion groups such as the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) are upset about an upcoming Super Bowl ad. The ad features Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. Tebow was born in spite of the fact that his mother, Pam, (a missionary to the Philippines at the time) was told by doctors that aborting him would be the only way to save her life.

Chris encouraged Crosstalk listeners to contact CBS to show their support for the decision to schedule the ad.

Proposed legislation in the state of Washington (SB-6452/HB-2837) was also mentioned. This legislation would require crisis pregnancy counselors to provide information about what they aren’t rather than the services that they do provide, and to warn that they won’t refer women for abortions.

Jim also presented information on the following news stories:

--Scott Brown, the recently elected senator for Massachusetts, is calling on the governor and the Secretary of State to certify him without delay.
--Tomorrow, the illegal alien aunt of President Obama could learn whether she will remain in America or be forced to return to Kenya.
--The latest on “don’t ask, don’t tell; the military homosexual policy that is set to be repealed
--An advisor to Obama is saying that if amnesty is brought about, it will ensure progressive rule.
--Rifqa Bary’s Muslim parents seek to be released from agreement to let Rifqa remain in foster care until the age of 18.
--Air Force Academy chapel adds a new worship area for followers of earth-centered religions.
--The Obama administration says the federal work force will grow to 2.15 million employees this year.
--Census Bureau to air ad during the Super Bowl
--Controversial elementary school book alludes to same-sex marriage

Continue reading "A Choice For Life: Tim Tebow Ad Reveals Abortion Agenda" »

Posted by Administrator at 04:26 PM | Permalink

Peter LaBarbera is president of Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH), a group dedicated to exposing the homosexual activist agenda.

This morning in the Senate Armed Services Committee, Defense Secretary Robert Gates came out in support of repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

A “high level working group” has been appointed to figure out how to make the change, however as Jim pointed out, any final change should be done by congressional action, not by presidential dictate.

The House of Representatives has drafted a bill to help move our military toward a homosexual friendly posture. The Military Readiness Enforcement Act (HR-1283) currently has 187 co-sponsors. This is an unusual name for this bill when you consider that there are statistics from the Department of Defense Institute showing that a homosexual is over 5 times more likely to rape a fellow serviceman than a serviceman was to rape a servicewoman.

The House subcommittee will be holding a hearing on March 3, on “don’t ask, don’t tell,” so Jim encouraged listeners to contact their senators and congressmen at the points of contact listed below.

Continue reading "The Gay Agenda: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and Proposition 8" »

Posted by Administrator at 04:51 PM | Permalink

Craig Parshall is the Senior Vice-President and General Counsel of the National Religious Broadcasters. He joined Vic Eliason to discuss new threats and issues to broadcasting and the Internet that people need to know about.

One of the powers of a president select the Chairman for the Federal Communications Commission, the government body that licenses and regulates broadcasters. President Obama wanted media reform and Craig feels regulations being proposed would give the government control of day-to-day programming decisions made by broadcasters. These proposals deal with areas listed below such as:

Localism—The localism concept is supposed to make certain that every broadcaster meets the news and information needs of their local community. The FCC proposed a rule that requires that at license renewal time, a station has to be able to prove that there’s enough local information being aired during the broadcast day. Unfortunately, the definition of what constitutes local news that meets community needs hasn’t been clearly defined.

Community Advisory Councils—In order to help define these needs, the FCC has suggested that every broadcaster be required to have a local advisory council that would meet with them on at least a quarterly basis. This council would suggest to a local broadcaster how to determine programming decisions. Those that would be a part of this would include every leader of every group in your community. That could be the local Muslim Imam, a local gay activist, an occult group representative, etc.

Music License Fees—In the past, song composers were given revenue based upon the amount of airplay their music received. Now the industry wants a royalty for performers as well. Craig noted, however, that the industry has admitted that much of that money wouldn’t go to the performers but to the music industry.

Internet—The FCC proposed an “Open Internet” proceeding in order to help establish formal regulations for everything that takes place on the Internet. The claim is that this is to protect the consumer so that the Internet stays open for equal access. This sounds fine until you realize that there’s a possibility that this will define what can and can’t be posted on the Internet.

Spectrum Space—The switch from analog to digital TV took away a significant amount of spectrum space from broadcasters in a method similar to the way eminent domain can remove land from landowners.

The remainder of the program featured callers and their thoughts concerning what Christian radio and the work of the NRB means to them.

Continue reading "Net “Neutrality”: FCC Power Grab" »

Posted by Administrator at 04:16 PM | Permalink