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US Navy blockades are winning the war · Cultural Wars | America Out Loud News

• 0:14
  Welcome to Peace Through Strength, America's Navy.
• 0:18
  I'm your host, Lieutenant Commander Steven Rogers, United States Navy retired.
• 0:23
  And presently, I am the executive director of the Association of the United States Navy.
• 0:29
  Now, this program, Peace Through Strength, America's Navy, is presented by the Association of the United States Navy.
• 0:37
  And who are we?
• 0:38
  We're a nonprofit organization that supports the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard operations, as well as the service members and their families worldwide who stand by their side and support them.
• 0:52
  And to them, I give a great big thanks and a big, big salute.
• 0:56
  God bless you.
• 0:58
  Now the views expressed on this program are those of the AUSN and only of the AUSN.
• 1:05
  Now, if you want to learn more about the Association of the United States Navy, all you have to do is go to our website at AUSN.org.
• 1:14
  That's AUSN.org.
• 1:17
  And once you get there, uh do a little research, find out who we are, what we are, and perhaps drop us a line.
• 1:24
  That would be terrific to hear from you.
• 1:26
  Or you can go to the America Outloud.news website, look for our website, look for their website or our logo on their website, and uh just uh push the button or click over that logo, it'll bring you to a contact form, and bingo, there you are.
• 1:42
  Contact forms there, fill it out, send it to me.
• 1:45
  It doesn't cost you anything, and I'd like to hear from you.
• 1:47
  I really like to hear your views and your uh uh ideas on what we need to do with uh Iran.
• 1:54
  And for those of you who are out on the fleet, who are on naval air stations, Coast Guard stations, and any military uh base around the world, uh I've heard that some of you uh are listening to us.
• 2:05
  I I've actually heard from some military personnel who have told me that they enjoy the broadcast, and they thank us for being uh pretty forthright on what needs to be said and is not being said by many people uh who are in leadership positions, not only around the world, but around the country.
• 2:22
  One point in time I'll get to that.
• 2:24
  But the fact of the matter is is that we are here for you, and I thank you very, very much for tuning in.
• 2:30
  And one more point before I move on with the topic of uh today's broadcast, which focuses in on the blockades over there at the Strait of Hermose.
• 2:39
  I have a message for the supporters of Iran.
• 2:41
  Uh I've gotten some word.
• 2:43
  In fact, I gotta tell you, I actually got uh a couple of messages via the internet from people who purport to be supporters of the IRGC, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, uh, sending me their propaganda, telling me I'm all wrong, that they're gonna defeat the United States, that they're gonna sink the United States Navy, and on and on and on and on.
• 3:02
  So they're listening.
• 3:03
  And they're not only listening to this broadcast, they're listening to every single broadcast coming out of the United States of America on every single network.
• 3:14
  And that's why I've said over and over again with regard to the mainstream media and some of these individuals who are criticizing our military and our president and our Secretary of War, you are feeding into the IRGC propaganda machine.
• 3:30
  You're feeding into the Islamic regime in Tehran.
• 3:37
  You're feeding into their goals, their desires, and their missions because they're taking the negative stuff, the non-supportive stuff that you are transmitting, and they're using that to convince their people that America wants to pull out, wants to surrender with their tail between their legs from their region.
• 3:58
  That's another story again at another time.
• 4:01
  But as far as I'm concerned, those of you who are members of the IRGC or who support them, your days are numbered.
• 4:10
  That's it.
• 4:10
  Your days are numbered.
• 4:12
  You're gonna be doomed one way or the other.
• 4:14
  Either United States Navy and the United States Air Force, Army, Marines, Coast Guard, whatever, whoever, wherever, and whenever, if we don't destroy you first, the people in your own country will destroy you.
• 4:29
  You're finished.
• 4:30
  You're doomed the one way or another.
• 4:33
  So if you're listening, and I know some of you are, you're probably scratching your head right now saying, well, how how do you respond to stuff like that?
• 4:40
  And you'll come up with some propaganda.
• 4:42
  Unfortunately, I know you'll use some of the propaganda coming out of our own country to counteract not only what I just said, but what a lot of other people across America are saying.
• 4:52
  And by the way, when I say a lot of other people, I'm talking about the majority of Americans.
• 4:58
  Yep, the IRGC.
• 5:00
  I liken you guys as a bunch of thugs, street thugs, weapons in your hands, shooting innocent people, executing them, torturing them.
• 5:10
  You are a bunch of cowards.
• 5:12
  That's what you are.
• 5:13
  You're not a military organization.
• 5:15
  You're not a well-trained military force.
• 5:18
  You're just a bunch of street thugs.
• 5:20
  At least that's what you are, and that is exactly what you're being viewed as, not only here in the United States, but around the world.
• 5:27
  And by the way, uh, unless you guys rise up and decide to side with the people instead of the thugs that are running your government, uh, they will be coming after you.
• 5:39
  So you got a big problem.
• 5:41
  You got the thugs running your government that may come after you, they get tired of you, because you're getting defeated, you get destroyed by the United States uh Navy at this point.
• 5:50
  So uh they're gonna think that I'm talking about your regime leaders, they're gonna say, gee, we gotta get rid of these guys uh in the IRGC, we've got to replace them.
• 5:58
  So you're next, all right?
• 5:59
  You're gonna be going, you're gonna be getting executed or hung or something like that, whatever you guys do out there.
• 6:05
  Or if they don't get rid of you, the people will get rid of you.
• 6:09
  Now you're thinking, I'm sure that, well, how are they gonna get rid of us?
• 6:13
  They don't have weapons.
• 6:14
  Not yet.
• 6:16
  Not yet, and maybe they won't need weapons.
• 6:18
  Because if they don't get rid of you, we will.
• 6:21
  One way or the other, you guys are doomed.
• 6:23
  So what am I saying?
• 6:24
  You better shape up.
• 6:25
  You might want to think about changing sides.
• 6:27
  Go on the side of the good guys, not the side of the bad guys.
• 6:32
  Okay?
• 6:32
  Now, I understand that the blockade that is now being enforced by the United States Navy is doing a lot of damage.
• 6:40
  A lot of damage to Iran.
• 6:43
  We certainly don't want to damage the people.
• 6:45
  We've said that over and over and over again.
• 6:47
  We want the people in Iran to be free.
• 6:49
  They want freedom.
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  They want liberty.
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  And what we're doing now is imposing our uh peace through strength policy with great strength.
• 6:58
  As you know, there's been a ceasefire.
• 7:00
  Fire, we're not dropping bombs on Iran as of yet, because the blockade seems to be taking uh a tremendous amount of impact, negative impact on the Iranian economy.
• 7:00
  We're not dropping bombs on Iran as of yet, because the blockade seems to be taking uh a tremendous amount of impact, negative impact on the Iranian economy.
• 7:11
  And that economy is collapsing.
• 7:11
  And that economy is collapsing.
• 7:13
  Their military's collapse, their government is collapsing, the economy is now collapsing.
• 7:13
  Their military's collapse, their government is collapsing, the economy is now collapsing.
• 7:19
  No fuel, no food.
• 7:19
  No fuel, no food, that's what's coming.
• 7:21
  That's what's coming.
• 7:22
  And you know what happens when people have no fuel and no food, they can't go to work, they can't get paid, their kids begin to starve.
• 7:22
  And you know what happens when people have no fuel and no food, they can't go to work, they can't get paid, their kids begin to starve.
• 7:28
  Guess what's gonna happen?
• 7:28
  Guess what's gonna happen?
• 7:30
  It's happened throughout history.
• 7:32
  You could do a lot of things to people, but once you do them en masse, do bad things in mass to the people, they're not gonna tolerate it anymore.
• 7:40
  So we continue to pray and hope that the Iranian people somehow, some way have the strength, the courage, and the conviction to do what must be done and change that regime.
• 7:51
  I have enough confidence in the United States Navy and all our armed forces that we will do what we have to do to weaken the Iranian economy to the point that the government will finally get finished off by the people, of the people and for the people.
• 8:07
  Sound familiar that phrase, folks?
• 8:09
  Sound familiar?
• 8:11
  Well, the U.S.
• 8:12
  Navy maintains right now today, a very strong presence in the Strait of Hormoes, contrary to what the Iranian government put out this week.
• 8:21
  You believe they had the audacity, the nerve to send out information worldwide through their propaganda internet programs that they actually fired missiles at a couple of U.S.
• 8:35
  destroyers and destroyers ran?
• 8:37
  Could you could you imagine that?
• 8:39
  I mean, I mean, they got to be out of their minds.
• 8:42
  Nobody believes that.
• 8:43
  They fire missiles at a U.S.
• 8:45
  warship.
• 8:46
  Well, they're gonna pay a heavy price.
• 8:48
  So they didn't do that.
• 8:49
  But that's what they've resorted to.
• 8:50
  They've got nothing else left in their arsenal other than their big mouths.
• 8:54
  And so they're gonna continue to send propaganda out.
• 8:58
  And unfortunately, there are people who do believe that.
• 9:01
  People in our own country, the United States of America believe that.
• 9:05
  But it's not true.
• 9:07
  It's pretty poor that they've uh resorted to that, but that's the way it is with them.
• 9:12
  And I've said all along, if there's any better job we need to do when I talk about whether it be the Association of the United States Navy or government in general, is to uh utilize uh more resources and getting the facts out.
• 9:26
  And that's why we're here.
• 9:27
  That's why the AUSN is here.
• 9:29
  That's why other organizations, just like us who represent military, uh who's being the voice of the U.S.
• 9:35
  military, if you will.
• 9:37
  They're doing exactly what we're doing.
• 9:38
  The Army, the Marines, the Coast Guard.
• 9:40
  Well, a lot of us are out here doing that, and we're going to continue to do that.
• 9:44
  Our men and women in the military are busy fighting that war physically, mentally, strategically, and tactily.
• 9:51
  We'll take care of the home front and we'll take care of getting the good news out.
• 9:54
  The positive news, the supportive news.
• 9:56
  What do you think of that, folks?
• 9:58
  Ain't that great?
• 9:59
  That's what America's all about.
• 10:01
  We come together.
• 10:02
  We stand united.
• 10:03
  Oh, yeah.
• 10:04
  If the Iranians out there, and I'm talking about their regime, and the RRGC believes we're divided.
• 10:09
  Well, you've got another we've got another guest coming to you.
• 10:13
  We are not divided.
• 10:15
  We are as united as ever with regard to any operations we have had against an enemy.
• 10:22
  You are our enemies, and we, the people of the United States, along with our military, will continue to deal with you.
• 10:31
  Now, naval blockades aren't new.
• 10:33
  I know a lot of people are living today, a lot of younger people don't even have have an idea what a blockade is.
• 10:39
  But over the years, the United States Navy has used them in different conflicts and a large number of crises to do what?
• 10:47
  To limit what an adversary can import or export, to disrupt military resupply routes, and to apply economic pressure.
• 10:56
  And we do this because, as I've said over and over again, that is a big part of our peace restraint policy, without firing one shot.
• 11:05
  And it's worked in the past.
• 11:06
  We've gone on military operations, naval operations worldwide throughout the history of the United States Navy.
• 11:14
  We conducted some blockades, and I'll share a few of them in a few minutes with you.
• 11:18
  Uh, and without firing one shot, defeated an enemy.
• 11:23
  So often blockades are used as a way to shape events without immediately escalating these events into a larger fight.
• 11:32
  And that's what it's all about.
• 11:33
  Now, depending on the situation, a blockade can mean sealing off ports, stopping ships to and from these enemy ports, and inspecting ships at sea, or enforcing restrictions with what?
• 11:51
  Well, with a mix of surface ships, aircraft, surveillance ships, and surveillance aircraft.
• 11:58
  So there's a lot that goes on with a blockade.
• 12:00
  It's not only just uh our warships out there, but we've got surveillance aircraft, we've got other types of ships, perhaps at times, who knows, maybe even submarines are keeping an eye on things.
• 12:12
  But it's an all-force uh uh addressing against our enemies with regard to making sure that no ships are coming to or from their ports.
• 12:24
  Now, one thing we've learned recently is that although we have this blockade in the Strait of Hormoes, we now have a blockade worldwide, worldwide.
• 12:36
  Wherever Iranian ships are, the United States of America will track them, we will stop them, and we will inspect them at sea.
• 12:46
  We're gonna find out what is on those ships.
• 12:49
  And perhaps not only Iranian ships, but ships we find out are attempting to leave the ports of other nations and sailing to Iran.
• 12:59
  What do you think of that?
• 13:01
  Now, how do we board these ships, these cargo ships, these tankers or whatever?
• 13:05
  Well, you know, look at we could pull up next to them and yeah, we could uh send some uh small craft to these ships and board them from the sea, but there's another way we do it.
• 13:15
  We actually go out there and uh via helicopters, and we have those choppers fly over these uh cargo ships and and tankers or whatever ships we want to board, and uh actually our guys repel down ropes, talk about our marines, our special forces, they board those ships, they take control of them for a while, we inspect them, and if uh what we see on those ships are things that we don't like, well, you know what we do, folks?
• 13:44
  We take control of them.
• 13:46
  We seize them, and we bring them into some port or we keep them out there and uh they're going nowhere.
• 13:53
  So the Iranian government is in big trouble, not only in the Strait of Hores, but around the world.
• 14:00
  Around the world.
• 14:01
  Now, a little history.
• 14:01
  Now, a little history.
• 14:03
  The first time the United States used a naval blockade, I mean, on a truly large scale, was during the Civil War.
• 14:03
  The first time the United States used a naval blockade, I mean, on a truly large scale, was during the Civil War.
• 14:11
  All right, that was uh between 1861 and 1865.
• 14:11
  All right, that was uh between 1861 and 1865.
• 14:15
  Would you believe that President Abraham Lincoln had the Union Navy close off Confederate ports to cut off cotton exports and to stop the South from bringing in weapons and other critical supplies?
• 14:15
  Would you believe that President Abraham Lincoln had the Union Navy close off Confederate ports to cut off cotton exports and to stop the South from bringing in weapons and other critical supplies?
• 14:28
  That strategy.
• 14:28
  That strategy was often called the Anaconda Plan.
• 14:33
  All right, and what did it do?
• 14:35
  It slowly squeezed the Confederate economy and helped the Union gain the upper hand during the course of that war.
• 14:42
  It also pushed naval technology forward, including the rise of ironclad ships built to control contested waters.
• 14:51
  So the Civil War, we had naval blockades.
• 14:55
  Why did we cut off the cotton?
• 14:57
  Because the cotton exports from the South brought money into the Confederate States of America, and that money was distributed to do what?
• 15:07
  Buy weapons for the Confederate military.
• 15:10
  Yeah.
• 15:12
  Blockade way back in 1865.
• 15:15
  Now, in World War I, the United States teamed up with Great Britain.
• 15:19
  Too bad we don't see that happening today, but hopefully, you know, the government of Great Britain will uh think again and help us out in the Straits of Hormos.
• 15:27
  But uh back then in World War I, Great Britain and the United States teamed up and we set up a blockade of the Central Powers working to do what?
• 15:38
  To cut Germany and Austria-Hungary off from food, fuel, and key raw materials.
• 15:43
  Now, as their supplies ran short, daily life did get harder, and the enemy's ability to keep fighting began to falter.
• 15:51
  And that's the strategy we're using right now in Iran.
• 15:55
  We're going to make sure that the Iranian government is going to have a very, very difficult time paying their so-called group of thugs, okay.
• 16:04
  I call them the IRGC, that the Iranian government is going to have a hard time paying their military thugs, and that the people are going to have a hard time feeding their families, and somehow, some way the economy collapses, like it began to collapse in Germany and Austria-Hungary during World War I, and life is going to become so hard, they're not going to be able to fight a war anymore.
• 16:27
  It's going to end.
• 16:29
  And they will have to surrender, and hopefully sooner rather than later.
• 16:36
  Now, in World War II, the United States and its allies used blockades again, including, get a load of this, folks.
• 16:44
  And this is very important to understand.
• 16:52
  It was called Operation Starvation.
• 16:55
  Now, that relied on mines and air patrols to do what?
• 16:59
  To choke off Japanese shipping and sharply reduce the flow of supplies to both the military and civilians.
• 17:07
  So you see, again, Civil War, World War I, now World War II.
• 17:12
  We used blockades called Operation Starvation in World War II.
• 17:17
  Interesting.
• 17:18
  I didn't know that until I did some research, because the goal was to starve Japan, starve nations that were supporting Japan.
• 17:28
  Uh starve them of fuel, of food, and then it would starve their economy to a point that they would collapse.
• 17:36
  Now, I've got to tell you, the uh Operation Starvation did what?
• 17:41
  We relied on a lot of mines and air patrols to choke off Japanese shipping and sharply reduced the flow of supplies to both the military and their civilians.
• 17:50
  So that's what's happening, by the way, again in Iran.
• 17:54
  If you uh remember the Iranian government started to mine the Strait of Hormoes to keep uh ships from uh flowing in and out of their ports uh that were for some reason, you know, uh needed there.
• 18:10
  I mean, I I don't understand the IRGC.
• 18:13
  They they go out and they launch missiles against their friends, all right, if not uh friendly to the point that they came out and supported them.
• 18:22
  I'm talking about the other other Arab states.
• 18:24
  They launch missiles against them and it backfires.
• 18:28
  Um, where the Arab states, instead of supporting Iran, they begin to support us.
• 18:33
  Then they begin to mine the Straits of Hormoes.
• 18:37
  I I I guess in some degree they're thinking if they mine the Straits of Hormoz, our military uh might via the U.S.
• 18:43
  Navy will not show up.
• 18:45
  Well, we did, and we cleared a lot of those mines.
• 18:48
  Uh but the mines would blow up the ships that would also go into Iranian ports, right?
• 18:57
  Uh so they figured, well, that'll that'll discourage those ships from coming into from transmitting through the Strait of Hormoes.
• 19:04
  But again, that backfired.
• 19:06
  Because what they have on those ships, they Iran needs them.
• 19:09
  Yeah, people are out of their minds.
• 19:11
  I'll tell you, what kind of strategy do they have?
• 19:14
  None.
• 19:15
  I'll tell you, you know, they're flailing.
• 19:17
  You ever see, you know, you ever hear people flail when they're fighting?
• 19:20
  It means they can't get a target.
• 19:21
  They just, you know, they'll they'll throw their arms out, they'll throw their hands out, all kinds of crazy stuff goes on, but they're not hitting their target.
• 19:29
  That's what's happening here.
• 19:31
  The Iranian government has no target.
• 19:34
  They're a government is split up, divided.
• 19:36
  Uh, their military, they're lunatics that have no idea what to do now uh to try to intimidate the United States government.
• 19:44
  I mean, it's really reckless, folks, what's going on there, but somehow, some way they will be brought to their knees, and sanity will prevail.
• 19:52
  Compliments of the United States armed forces, and especially compliments of the United States Navy.
• 20:00
  Now we have the Cold War, all right?
• 20:02
  Cold War, and that's there was a war between the Soviet Union and the United States that went on for decades until the arrival of Ronald Reagan, and we'll talk about that in a second.
• 20:11
  All right, so we got the Cold War.
• 20:13
  Uh blockades were one way for the United States to turn up the pressure without going straight to a fighting war, all right, to a shooting war.
• 20:20
  Now, the Berlin blockade in 1948 and 1949, all right, that was led by the Soviet Union, all right?
• 20:28
  But it pushed the United States to respond with the Berlin airlift.
• 20:33
  So here you got the Soviet Union during the Cold War setting up a blockade to hurt us and to hurt a lot of the European countries.
• 20:42
  Well, instead of us responding the way that they thought we would respond, and that was kind of, you know, tantamount to surrender, uh, we had the Berlin airlift to keep the cities supplied.
• 20:54
  The Berlin airlift, okay.
• 20:56
  We dropped a lot of food, medication, etc.
• 21:00
  Over Berlin and other areas of Germany at that time.
• 21:00
  over Berlin and other areas of Germany at that time.
• 21:04
  Uh so again, another uh blockade used by the enemies, like we had the blockade used by Iran, that backfired.
• 21:05
  So again, another blockade used by the enemies, like we had the blockade used by Iran, that backfired.
• 21:13
  It only emboldened us to do something that we had to do in order to make sure people would not starve to death.
• 21:13
  It only emboldened us to do something that we had to do in order to make sure people would not starve to death.
• 21:20
  Now, we also had another one in my uh lifetime.
• 21:20
  Now, we also had another one uh in my uh lifetime, 1962, folks.
• 21:26
  1962, folks.
• 21:28
  I remember this.
• 21:28
  I remember this.
• 21:29
  We said
• 21:29
  We set up a naval blockade.
• 21:31
  It was called a quarantine at that time around Cuba.
• 21:35
  Why?
• 21:36
  Because the Soviet Union, believe it or not, was sending their nuclear missiles to Cuba.
• 21:44
  They were setting up bases in Cuba and 90 miles off the coast of the United States, 90 miles off of Florida, they were putting or wanted to build nuclear missiles there.
• 21:54
  So they were bringing parts in, warheads in, and uh that had to that had to stop.
• 22:00
  Just like we today in the United States, our president and others are saying Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.
• 22:07
  Well, back there, President John F.
• 22:09
  Kennedy in 1962 said Cuba will not have a nuclear weapon.
• 22:14
  So we set up this blockade, and I gotta tell you, if you ever get a chance to look or find a documentary or read about what went on, I believe it was 13 days or so it went on.
• 22:26
  We came very close to World War III.
• 22:29
  Very, very close.
• 22:31
  As the story goes, the blockade was set up, the Soviet ships are on the way, and every day we were looking at the clock, counting down when they reach international waters just outside of Cuba.
• 22:42
  Will they really mean the Soviet ships, the Soviet warships, will they really cross that line?
• 22:49
  And will they challenge the United States Navy?
• 22:52
  Had they were to do that, our Navy had orders to sink them.
• 22:56
  You imagine sinking Soviet ships, cargo ships, Soviet warships also, escorting some of those cargo ships.
• 23:07
  So everyone was on the edge in this country and around the world.
• 23:11
  Kennedy stood his ground, and after 13 days or so, I could tell you that uh the Soviets decided that that was not a very good idea.
• 23:22
  Not a very good idea, because uh the United States of America made it very, very clear that uh, like we are making clear today that there's no way that the United States Navy is going to turn around and uh leave those waters and allow the uh the uh Soviet ships to cross that red line we had uh and uh bring those missiles into Cuba was not going to happen.
• 23:54
  So that blockade work worked in 1962, and many blockade was uh I'm sorry, many blockades was were uh uh created around the world in order, and so many of you know many that you have not heard about, many of them have uh worked, and in this case, unfortunately uh is not working in Iran because they just don't they just don't get it.
• 24:20
  They'll never get it.
• 24:21
  So anyway, that's what was going on in 1962.
• 24:24
  And uh look at we've had certain certain small blockades around the world, like I said, that we haven't heard about, talked about.
• 24:31
  But certainly, certainly it uh we get the message across.
• 24:35
  We get the message across.
• 24:37
  So there we are, folks.
• 24:38
  You know, I mean, that's what's going on uh right now, and we hope and pray that the United States of America stands strong.
• 24:44
  And by the way, getting back to the um Cold War with the Soviet Union, it was Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, and even Pope John Paul uh the second back uh during the Reagan years that were able to bring down uh the Soviet Empire.
• 25:01
  Thought I'd throw that in there.
• 25:02
  So over the years, U.S.
• 25:03
  naval blockades, we've gone from simple port closures, folks, to complex operations like we see today uh in Iran.
• 25:11
  Uh, but all of these blockades, they were shaped by technology, international law, and for the most part, coordination with our allies.
• 25:20
  Iran is an exception.
• 25:22
  One day I will commit a broadcast to the who, what, when, where, and why our allies are not helping us.
• 25:29
  Little troubling, isn't it?
• 25:30
  But let's see where it goes.
• 25:32
  Maybe some way somehow they'll think twice and say, you know, why don't we get together with the United States and address that problem in Iran?
• 25:39
  Blockades are a key tool for controlling maritime trade, all right, putting a lot of economic pressure on an adversary and supporting what?
• 25:48
  Broader strategic goal.
• 25:53
  And that's very, very important that we keep that in mind.
• 25:56
  And the blockades often influence how wars unfold and how countries deal with one another.
• 26:02
  The fact that they are still used today shows you one very important thing, folks.
• 26:08
  They remain as a strong U.S.
• 26:10
  naval strategy and global maritime strategy.
• 26:16
  Psalm 3723, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way.
• 26:23
  Well, the steps of the United States Navy and the United States Armed Forces as a whole, I believe, in some respect, are ordered by God.
• 26:35
  A country blessed by him in the past, now, and forever.
• 26:39
  All right, folks, God bless you all.
• 26:41
  Until next time, God bless America.
• 26:44
  Feeling off lately, bloated, brain fog, low energy.
• 26:47
  It could be parasites.
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• 28:19
  Oral hygiene hasn't changed in 50 years, but our diet and the way we eat has creating an environment in your mouth for bacteria to wreck havoc on your teeth and gums.
• 28:19
  Coral hygiene hasn't changed in 50 years, but our diet and the way we eat has creating an environment in your mouth for bacteria to wreck havoc on your teeth and gums.
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• 29:20
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• 29:26
  America turns the big two five zero.
• 29:29
  250 years on July 4th, 2026.
• 29:33
  Tell us your uniquely American story by emailing us at Liberty at America Outloud.
• 29:42
  News.
• 29:42
  We'll publish the results on a special web page celebrating the best of America.
• 29:52
  Now is our time, my fellow Americans.
• 29:55
  America Outloud.news, liberty and justice for all.
• 30:05
  Welcome back to our broadcast, ladies and gentlemen.
• 30:08
  Thank you so much for joining me and always welcoming U.S.
• 30:11
  military personnel around the world, especially our U.S.
• 30:15
  Navy personnel and Coast Guard personnel out on the uh Strait of Hormos and the Persian Gulf and around the world.
• 30:22
  Uh supporting, strengthening peace, justice, and freedom worldwide.
• 30:28
  Thank you so much.
• 30:29
  And thank you so much to your families who are here on the home front keeping your families strong.
• 30:35
  God bless you all.
• 30:36
  Now, during this segment of today's broadcast, uh, I get what I call out loud for God.
• 30:41
  You know, America Out Loud News.
• 30:44
  We certainly get out loud about the news, we speak about the news, we speak about events uh surrounding uh our country, surrounding our cities, our towns, our states, and from news from around the world.
• 30:56
  So we make it a point to bring some credible, relevant, actionable news to you, hoping that at some point in time you'll get involved.
• 31:04
  You'll get involved in uh volunteering at a certain organization, maybe in your community, uh, maybe from time to time thinking about getting involved in politics, getting involved with the military, get involved.
• 31:17
  Very important.
• 31:18
  But get involved to a point where you're going to be adding value to freedom, to liberty, to individual liberties.
• 31:27
  How about that, folks?
• 31:29
  So we get a lot of people involved in a lot of different things that are not very good for our country.
• 31:34
  Well, it's about time we start talking about getting involved with things that are good for our country.
• 31:39
  And one thing, especially during this segment, that I advocate that all of us get involved with, and that happens to be a person.
• 31:48
  Yeah, you should be involved with a person.
• 31:51
  Become friends with the person, and that person happens to be God Almighty.
• 31:56
  That person happens to be Jesus Christ.
• 31:58
  And that's what the second half of this broadcast is all about.
• 32:02
  Spiritual in nature.
• 32:04
  I look at a spiritual perspective from the Judeo-Christian values in which this nation was founded upon.
• 32:11
  I take a look at those things.
• 32:13
  Now I don't scream Bible scriptures at you.
• 32:16
  I don't brow you with theology.
• 32:19
  I'm not like that.
• 32:20
  I'm not a preacher, not a minister.
• 32:22
  I'm not even a member of the clergy.
• 32:24
  I'm just like most of you who are listening to this broadcast.
• 32:28
  I'm a person who did the best I could and continue to do the best I could in life to succeed, to progress towards my goals, towards my desires, towards my dreams.
• 32:39
  But I learned in life, and I'm still learning that life without Christ is no life at all.
• 32:47
  And unless you know Christ now, you have no idea what I'm talking about.
• 32:52
  That's right.
• 32:52
  It's like a person who has a dog, let's say a dog or any pet for that matter.
• 32:57
  You have this pet your whole life, and all of a sudden, that pet grows old, and that pet passes on.
• 33:04
  You grieve, you cry, you get upset.
• 33:08
  Like I have during the course of my life when I've had pets and they've had to go to heaven.
• 33:13
  People look at you and say, Well, that's just a pet.
• 33:16
  What do you mean that's just a pet?
• 33:18
  That's a family member.
• 33:20
  And I liken that unto a relationship with Christ, believe it or not.
• 33:24
  Just hear me out a minute.
• 33:26
  If you never had a pet, you have no idea what it is to lose a pet.
• 33:33
  You have no idea what we mean that our pets are family members.
• 33:38
  If you never had Christ in your life, you have no idea what you're missing.
• 33:43
  Just like if you never had a pet, you don't know what you're missing.
• 33:47
  So this is why I commit the second half of each and every one of my broadcasts to thinking about having a personal relationship with God.
• 33:58
  A friendship with Christ.
• 34:00
  Christ is God.
• 34:01
  Okay, make no mistake about that.
• 34:05
  I could go into a long discussion about that.
• 34:07
  People will say, you know what?
• 34:09
  Christ is not God, he's not this, he's not that.
• 34:11
  But I take this from a perspective that Christ is God, period.
• 34:17
  Now, if you don't believe that, don't run away, just stay tuned in, all right?
• 34:21
  Because certain things I may say may have impact on your life.
• 34:25
  In other words, a seed may be planted.
• 34:27
  What do you think of that?
• 34:29
  A seed may be planted in your life.
• 34:33
  It could turn your life around like a turn my life around and countless millions of people's lives around.
• 34:39
  When somebody took the time, whether it be on radio, TV or in person, or by reading a book, somebody took the time, and no doubt my mind, most of you know that your grandma or your grandpa or your mother or your father took the time to pray for you.
• 34:56
  So, folks, every broadcast that I have, I dedicate this period of time of the broadcast to God Almighty.
• 35:00
  I dedicate this period of time of the broadcast to God Almighty.
• 35:05
  And I take everything that I've read about in the Bible, look at it, examine it, study it, and I try to address all kinds of issues with regard to the lives we live and the fact that without Christ, the issues that we're addressing are very temporary.
• 35:05
  And I take everything that I've read about in the Bible, look at it, examine it, study it, and I try to address all kinds of issues with regard to the lives we live and the fact that without Christ, the issues that we're addressing are very temporary.
• 35:27
  Something to think about.
• 35:27
  Something to think about.
• 35:28
  This world is temporary.
• 35:28
  This world is temporary.
• 35:30
  A relationship with Christ is not.
• 35:34
  Heaven and earth, the Bible says, shall pass away, but the word of God will stand forever.
• 35:40
  So I would venture to say that new listeners may be scratching their heads thinking, boy, what's this all about?
• 35:47
  Well, you're probably saying, we just heard the first part of this broadcast, and boy, that was pretty interesting and dynamic, and you know, really, really neat stuff.
• 35:56
  And now you're talking about the Bible?
• 35:59
  You're talking about God?
• 36:02
  That's right.
• 36:02
  Stick around and listen.
• 36:05
  Because, like I just shared with you, what I'm about to share, may have profound impact on your life.
• 36:10
  I mean, look at do you have anything to lose?
• 36:13
  Think about it.
• 36:14
  You're going through hell, aren't you?
• 36:16
  Some of you are.
• 36:17
  Some of you are going through some real tough times.
• 36:20
  Divorce, separation, kids giving you problems, losing your job.
• 36:26
  The economy's hurting everybody, and it's got to be hurting most of you out there.
• 36:29
  Certainly hurting me.
• 36:31
  I'm a regular person like you.
• 36:32
  Just because I'm on the radio and TV and I do this and that, that doesn't mean I'm any different than you.
• 36:38
  I am like you.
• 36:40
  Just like you.
• 36:42
  All right.
• 36:43
  Now, if you're doing a lot of bad things, I'm not like you.
• 36:45
  Okay, let's get that.
• 36:47
  Let's get that straight.
• 36:48
  But the Bible does say we're all sinners.
• 36:51
  We're all for short the glory of God.
• 36:53
  But you get my point.
• 36:54
  All right.
• 36:55
  You get my point.
• 36:56
  We're just a bunch of middle income people getting together, doing what God wants us to do.
• 37:03
  And you could do that too.
• 37:04
  You could do what God wants you to do.
• 37:06
  Hey, look, you may not be doing what God wants you to do right now.
• 37:09
  That doesn't mean he loves you any less.
• 37:11
  That doesn't mean he's not going to open his arms to you.
• 37:15
  Hey, you know what?
• 37:17
  Whether you know it or not, the Bible said he came to this earth.
• 37:20
  Jesus came to this earth for us.
• 37:22
  He didn't come for those who are powerful who are rich who don't believe in him.
• 37:28
  Now that doesn't mean if you're powerful and rich that Christ doesn't love you.
• 37:32
  He loves you too.
• 37:35
  But if you notice, I've noticed throughout the whole Bible.
• 37:39
  He reached way down deep, the bottom of the barrel.
• 37:42
  Look at them 12 guys he picked out to be disciples.
• 37:44
  Whew, man, I'll tell you, you talk about individuals that were a mess.
• 37:49
  All of them were.
• 37:51
  But he called them the 12 to spread the gospel throughout the world.
• 37:56
  And we still have that gospel today because they did what he said they should do.
• 38:01
  And he does that to me, and he did it to others, and he could do it to you.
• 38:05
  He may be doing that to you right now by you just sitting back, relaxing, and listening to what I have to say.
• 38:13
  Now I'll tell you this.
• 38:14
  During my lifetime, I pursued a lot of things in my quest to succeed, a heck of a lot of things.
• 38:20
  My fifth grade teacher actually called me a dreamer.
• 38:23
  All this guy does is dream.
• 38:24
  She would tell my parents at parent teacher conference.
• 38:27
  Your son's a dreamer.
• 38:28
  What are you dreaming about?
• 38:30
  Well, I dreamed that my life would be successful.
• 38:33
  I dreamed that one day I wanted to be an astronaut, wanted to be a pilot, wanted to do this, wanted to do that.
• 38:39
  And then as I grew older, those dreams changed to other areas of my life that I didn't even think about when I was younger.
• 38:48
  And then as he has even got older, I realized that those things that I dreamt about were actually a calling from God.
• 38:58
  God called me to do the things I'm doing in life now.
• 39:02
  And he may have called you right now to do the things you're doing.
• 39:05
  But the only way you're going to find out, you got to shake his hands, give him a hug, give him a kiss, let them know.
• 39:10
  Hey, Jesus, come on.
• 39:12
  Come on, let's get this, let's get this life together with you and let's talk.
• 39:16
  Yeah, that's the way I talk to God.
• 39:18
  You don't like it?
• 39:19
  You think you got to go through a script, you got to go to an altar, you gotta go here, go there.
• 39:22
  No, no, no.
• 39:23
  The special place you gotta go to is in your heart.
• 39:28
  That's where Jesus Christ presides.
• 39:31
  Please support your local churches, right?
• 39:34
  I look at it, I'm not against church.
• 39:36
  Support your local churches, go worship, do those things.
• 39:39
  They're nice to do, they're good to do.
• 39:41
  And they do give you some some special time with the Lord.
• 39:46
  But I say, make it a practice every day of going to Christ, of just spending a few minutes with him.
• 39:55
  I take a couple hours, folks, a day, not you know, two hours in one time period, maybe 15 minutes here, maybe a half hour there.
• 40:03
  I spend some solitude with God because that's the way I get close to him.
• 40:08
  I may read a scripture here and there, and I'll for the most part just take a cup of coffee and say, Hey, look at, let's have this talk.
• 40:16
  When I was aboard ship in the U.S.
• 40:18
  Navy, right?
• 40:19
  I would I would go out on a flight deck, near flight deck on a carrier, and uh uh or or or towards the uh the bow of the ship, and and I just spent a little time with God.
• 40:31
  And I'd go into the mess hall, the officer's wardrobe.
• 40:35
  I'd sit, talk to him, have coffee.
• 40:38
  I would, folks.
• 40:39
  And uh I got news for you.
• 40:42
  I did get answers.
• 40:44
  And like I've said over and over again, don't think I'm crazy.
• 40:47
  No voice, no thunderous voice from the clouds from the sky, lightning, bolt of lightnings and earthquakes, nothing like that.
• 40:54
  I'm talking about the inner voice.
• 40:56
  You know, I've always told people, mankind and the devil, you know, they're loud, they're very loud.
• 41:04
  They scream, uh, they scream crazy stuff.
• 41:08
  Christ whispers, he whispers, he whispers to our hearts, and his whisper is louder than any noise we could get from hell, then any noise we could get from people who may mean well, but maybe are simply not achieving the goal that they achieve is to help us through tough times.
• 41:28
  Some of them do, most of them don't.
• 41:31
  But God always.
• 41:35
  So stick around and listen, all right.
• 41:38
  Uh and I gotta tell you, I pursued many things in my life to succeed, and like most people in this pursuit, I made a lot of mistakes, and I entered many, many difficult valleys.
• 41:52
  Oh boy, many valleys.
• 41:54
  Now, in those valleys, I met a lot of people, made a lot of friends who like me suffered dearly in our pursuit of success.
• 42:00
  In our pursuit of success, because that's what we're all doing.
• 42:02
  Because that's what we're all doing.
• 42:03
  We're trying to find success.
• 42:03
  We're trying to find success.
• 42:06
  And by the way, thinking about our success, what would it bring us?
• 42:06
  And by the way, thinking about our success, what would it bring us?
• 42:13
  At least we thought peace.
• 42:13
  At least we thought peace.
• 42:15
  What a success.
• 42:15
  What a success.
• 42:16
  Boy, I got money in the bank.
• 42:16
  Boy, I got money in the bank.
• 42:17
  I'm successful.
• 42:17
  I'm successful.
• 42:18
  Got a great job.
• 42:18
  Got a great job.
• 42:19
  I'm successful.
• 42:19
  I'm successful, got to great this, got a great that, I'm successful.
• 42:20
  Got a great this, got a great that.
• 42:22
  I'm successful.
• 42:23
  But the ultimate question is are you at peace?
• 42:23
  But the ultimate question is are you at peace?
• 42:26
  Are you at peace?
• 42:26
  Are you at peace?
• 42:28
  I've shared with you.
• 42:28
  I've shared with you many times.
• 42:31
  I'm in the presence of a lot of wealthy people.
• 42:34
  Way out of my pay scale.
• 42:36
  Millionaires, billionaires.
• 42:38
  That's where my job takes me.
• 42:40
  A lot of people that are in charge of major corporations, generals, admirals, around all of them, politicians, around all of them.
• 42:49
  Around the president, the vice president.
• 42:53
  But my point is this.
• 42:55
  None of that, none of that has brought me peace.
• 43:01
  Really?
• 43:01
  I'm not kidding, folks.
• 43:03
  And you know what I found also?
• 43:05
  None of that, who they are and where they are in their life, has brought them peace.
• 43:11
  And I could tell just by having conversations with them.
• 43:15
  Some of the very wealthy people I've been around, they carry their iPads and two or three phones, and they're constantly on it, doing what?
• 43:22
  Minute by minute, not hour by hour, day by day.
• 43:25
  I'm talking about minute by minute checking the stock market, checking their investments.
• 43:29
  That is not a peaceful person.
• 43:31
  And yet they look for peace.
• 43:33
  And at times I will share with some of them, like I'm sharing with you, some scriptures in the Bible.
• 43:40
  Very few, very, very few will let that sink in.
• 43:46
  They listen, they all listen.
• 43:48
  The question, oh, let's put it this way.
• 43:50
  They all hear what I'm saying, but not too many of them are listening.
• 43:54
  Because when the subject of God comes up, whoo, they don't want to hear.
• 43:59
  And that's that.
• 44:00
  I don't push this stuff on anybody.
• 44:02
  I hope and pray that you're not one of them who is hearing me but not listening.
• 44:08
  Please stick around, like I said, and listen.
• 44:11
  So I meet all these people who suffer dearly, like we all do, but they don't want you to think that they do, but they do.
• 44:19
  They thought that their wealthiness, their material wealth would bring them peace.
• 44:25
  It doesn't.
• 44:26
  And after all, we all want peace, right?
• 44:28
  We all want money.
• 44:29
  We all want elevations at work.
• 44:32
  We all agree at times to take shortcuts that end up, wow, that end up on longer roads to our goals.
• 44:39
  We end up in bigger trouble when we take shortcuts.
• 44:43
  Yeah, I could tell you, remember Frank Sinatra, he sang that famous song, I did it my way, only to find out that quote unquote, my way was not the best way for me to travel.
• 44:56
  A man once said to me, God's way.
• 45:00
  The safe way, the best way, the only way.
• 45:04
  So let me be clear.
• 45:06
  God wants us to succeed.
• 45:07
  He wants you to succeed.
• 45:08
  He wants you to prosper.
• 45:10
  He wants your dreams to come true.
• 45:12
  But in the pursuit of these things, he does not want you or me to leave him behind.
• 45:18
  And we do that a lot.
• 45:21
  Even I do at times.
• 45:22
  Oh, I'll tell you I'm not perfect.
• 45:24
  I'm close to him.
• 45:26
  He's my buddy.
• 45:26
  We talk each day, and you know, I just love talking about Christ to people who receive the word.
• 45:33
  Uh I go out, I'm very successful in what I do, not because of me.
• 45:37
  I'll tell you, every I tell everybody, they'll praise me, pat me on the back, oh gee, I show you on TV.
• 45:43
  Gee, you, you know, your Navy career is this, your police career is that.
• 45:46
  And I always say, just keep in mind it wasn't just me.
• 45:49
  There was somebody else involved.
• 45:51
  Oh, I know you have a great mother and dad and this and that.
• 45:53
  I said, Yeah, they were involved, but I'm not talking about them.
• 45:56
  I'm talking about Christ.
• 45:58
  And then they look at me.
• 46:01
  Most of them, they heard it, but they didn't listen.
• 46:06
  They just were very nice and said, gee, that's nice.
• 46:09
  And then there were just a very few that would say, really?
• 46:13
  I said, yep.
• 46:14
  And they said, Well, what about God?
• 46:16
  And after that question is asked, that ends up to become uh a 30-minute to 40-minute discussion because they want to hear more.
• 46:25
  See, there's truth to the Bible that says many have a hunger and thirst for the word of God.
• 46:31
  Yep.
• 46:32
  You eat his food, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ, you'll never go hungry, and you drink the living water, which is again the word of God through Jesus Christ, you'll never go thirsty.
• 46:43
  That's what's happened to me.
• 46:45
  I train I transitioned from always being hungry and thirsty for success and peace to no longer being hungry and thirsty for anything, but more and more of God, more and more of Jesus Christ, and yeah, more and more of what I could pray for and receive.
• 47:01
  And some of those answers are no.
• 47:04
  Nobody likes to hear no.
• 47:06
  Oh, Lord, I want this.
• 47:06
  Oh no, you're not getting that.
• 47:08
  Yeah, but no, no, no, you're not getting that.
• 47:10
  And you know what?
• 47:11
  When I don't get an answer to my prayer, I get a better thing.
• 47:15
  Yeah, it works.
• 47:17
  It works, folks.
• 47:20
  So uh let me be clear again, folks, that he wants you to succeed, he wants me to succeed, but he doesn't want to be left behind.
• 47:30
  So what I say is this, folks.
• 47:33
  When is the last time you picked up a Bible or a book about Christ and his message to all of us?
• 47:43
  His message to you.
• 47:45
  Can you point to any book that's lasted longer than the Bible?
• 47:49
  Any book that's been printed on reprinted on the face of the earth that's lasted longer than the Bible.
• 47:57
  We're talking thousands of years here.
• 47:59
  Still the best seller.
• 48:01
  When is the last time you had a conversation with God?
• 48:03
  I'm not talking about a scripted prayer, but I'll talk one-on-one, face-to-face, heart-to-heart conversation with God.
• 48:10
  Never.
• 48:12
  Hmm.
• 48:13
  He's our father in heaven.
• 48:16
  You got a kid out there, you got a son or daughter?
• 48:18
  What if they didn't talk to you for a couple of years?
• 48:21
  Hmm.
• 48:22
  What do you think of that?
• 48:23
  You see, it hits home when we start to think about it.
• 48:26
  Am I condemning you?
• 48:27
  No, because I was just like you.
• 48:30
  Yep.
• 48:31
  Nobody is in a position to condemn anybody else, especially me.
• 48:35
  The life I lived in the past, you know, I wasn't a bad, bad, super bad person.
• 48:41
  I don't I don't want you to believe that, but let's put it this way.
• 48:44
  I was displeasing to the Lord.
• 48:47
  Yeah, I was.
• 48:50
  Then I woke up and a light shined on me, not a literal light, but I'm talking about that light in my heart, soul, and spirit.
• 48:57
  I was introduced to Jesus Christ and said, Wow, what a difference.
• 49:00
  Well, with a difference.
• 49:01
  Anyway, you know, those times led me to the 37th Psalm, verse 23.
• 49:01
  Anyway, you know, those times led me to the 37th Psalm, verse 23, the steps of a good man, and we could also see these days the steps of a good woman as well as a man are ordered by God, and he delighteth in his way.
• 49:07
  The steps of a good man, and we could also see these days, the steps of a good woman as well as a man are ordered by God, and he delighteth in his way.
• 49:19
  Every step we take are ordered by God.
• 49:19
  Every step we take are ordered by God.
• 49:22
  And I would venture to say some of the steps that we take that are not good for us are allowed by God.
• 49:22
  And I would venture to say some of the steps that we take that are not good for us are allowed by God.
• 49:28
  He doesn't order us.
• 49:28
  He doesn't order us to go down the road to commit sin.
• 49:32
  But his ordered steps are to go in the way of righteousness, in the way of his will to prosper us.
• 49:40
  But no, we have to fight him.
• 49:42
  We have to say, nah, I'm not going down that road.
• 49:44
  I'm going to go down this road.
• 49:46
  And we end up in trouble.
• 49:48
  So in my pursuit of God, I learned that God doesn't just watch from a distance, folks.
• 49:53
  He's not hanging around heaven up there with the stars.
• 49:57
  He's right in your heart, soul, your spirit through the Holy Spirit.
• 50:00
  He's with you next to you.
• 50:01
  He guides people who follow him.
• 50:03
  If you don't follow him, he'll push you here, push you there.
• 50:07
  But you think he uh he hasn't even given up on guiding you, but he'll try to get you to go through that door.
• 50:13
  But for goodness sakes, we want to do things our way.
• 50:17
  Our will.
• 50:17
  It doesn't say my will be done.
• 50:21
  It says God's will be done.
• 50:23
  Hmm.
• 50:24
  Like I said, you got kids, stubborn, they want to do it their way.
• 50:28
  No, you're the father, you're the mother, you're the parent.
• 50:30
  They're going to do it your way, whether they like it or not.
• 50:32
  And somehow, some way they end up doing it your way.
• 50:35
  And believe me, God has a way of making sure you do it his way.
• 50:38
  Oh, yeah.
• 50:40
  That's right.
• 50:41
  You know what?
• 50:43
  He's shaping our decisions.
• 50:45
  And he's causing us to take steps that line up with his will.
• 50:50
  And you might be saying, yeah, but you know, his will is not my will.
• 50:53
  Of course not.
• 50:54
  Of course not.
• 50:56
  Our will has to be his will.
• 50:58
  Well, how do you find out his will?
• 51:00
  Have that conversation.
• 51:01
  Talk with him.
• 51:02
  He's God.
• 51:03
  You know what?
• 51:04
  And there's the see the key to success.
• 51:06
  I used to have this battle constantly.
• 51:08
  Oh, but Lord, I want to do this and do that.
• 51:11
  And I hope it's your will.
• 51:14
  And I talk, pray, have these conversations.
• 51:17
  And then I start walking down a road that I thought was my will.
• 51:21
  And all of a sudden there was a detour.
• 51:23
  But I like that detour.
• 51:25
  So I am led to a detour, you know, this road to another door in my life.
• 51:30
  And I get curious and I open it up and I said, Man, this is better than what I wanted.
• 51:36
  You see, that's how he operates.
• 51:37
  You don't hit us over ahead and say, You're going to do what I tell you to do.
• 51:41
  He says, look at here's some other options.
• 51:44
  And through these conversations, through prayer with your friend Jesus Christ.
• 51:50
  You realize, hmm, there is something better.
• 51:54
  There's something better my boss can't give me.
• 51:57
  There's something better, money can't buy.
• 51:59
  There is something better for me in this life, other than the humdrum of living every day, going to work, coming home, and going through this and that, and this and that without peace.
• 52:09
  There's something better.
• 52:10
  And that better happens to be making friends with Jesus Christ.
• 52:18
  Yeah, he's a king, but he's also a friend.
• 52:22
  You know, he says in his word, I'll stick closer to you than a brother will stick close to you.
• 52:28
  I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
• 52:31
  All Jesus wants is your friendship.
• 52:35
  I told you in past broadcasts, I used to have struggled.
• 52:38
  God, how can I repay you for what you've done for me?
• 52:42
  How can I do something in return for you?
• 52:45
  You know, I'll give to a church or I'll do this or I'll do that.
• 52:49
  None of that satisfies God.
• 52:52
  Yes, it's great, it's wonderful.
• 52:53
  He loves you to do that.
• 52:54
  I'm not discouraging you from doing that.
• 52:56
  That's fine.
• 52:57
  He wants us to be generous, wants us to help people.
• 53:00
  But what he really wants, he wants us to trust in him.
• 53:05
  He wants us to have faith in him.
• 53:08
  He wants you and me to be friend.
• 53:14
  And his will is for you and me to succeed.
• 53:18
  His will is to see your prayers answered and my prayers answered, and to trust and have faith in him.
• 53:24
  That he will provide what is best for us.
• 53:29
  That's right.
• 53:31
  He'll do that for people who are living to the best of their ability in line with his will, which boils down to recognize that we are sinners.
• 53:40
  You got to recognize that.
• 53:41
  You're a sinner, not evil.
• 53:43
  But you are a sinner, just like I am.
• 53:45
  Even now I'm a sinner.
• 53:46
  I know that.
• 53:48
  And Jesus Christ came to this earth.
• 53:50
  You recognize you're a sinner, you recognize and accept the fact that he came to this earth to forgive you of your sins, to forgive me of my sins, to forgive all of us our sins.
• 54:01
  Well, then we take it a step further and we repent.
• 54:05
  Lord forgive me.
• 54:06
  I don't understand this whole thing of being born again and saved.
• 54:10
  I've heard all these terms.
• 54:12
  I don't understand this, but I'll tell you what, I'm in a situation now where I can go nowhere.
• 54:17
  So I come to you.
• 54:19
  I'm a sinner.
• 54:22
  I believe you came to this earth and was crucified so that my sins may be forgiven, and I repent of those sins right now.
• 54:30
  And now, Lord, I commit myself to you.
• 54:33
  Jesus Christ is my Lord, my Savior, and my friend.
• 54:38
  And you know what?
• 54:40
  Once He's your friend, he will never leave you behind.
• 54:44
  Never.
• 54:44
  Now you do that.
• 54:46
  God's going to guide you and direct you all the days of your life through thick and thin.
• 54:51
  God not only oversees major lives in our events, but I'll tell you, every little small event that comes your way, every step you take, he will be with you, but you make sure you're with him.
• 55:01
  He will not leave you behind.
• 55:03
  You make sure you don't leave him behind.
• 55:06
  All right.
• 55:07
  He said, and this is very interesting.
• 55:10
  There's a psalm out there that emphasizes that when a person like you or me commit our ways to Jesus Christ, he will make their steps sure and guard them from ultimate failure.
• 55:23
  You're never going to fail again.
• 55:24
  You may have problems and difficulties, it'll rain, believe me, those storms will come, but you are peace through those storms, and you will not fail.
• 55:32
  Even the righteous stumble, even the good guys stumble.
• 55:35
  We know that, right?
• 55:36
  But they will not be utterly cast down because the Lord Jesus Christ, your friend, will uphold you with his hand.
• 55:44
  Go look at Psalm 37, verse 24.
• 55:47
  So here's what I say.
• 55:48
  And I close with this.
• 55:50
  The Bible says the steps of a righteous man or woman are ordered by God.
• 55:54
  And that signifies God's active involvement in guiding you, protecting you, and delighting in your very life, because you have decided to become his friend and follow him.
• 56:00
  Delighting in your very life because you have decided to become his friend and follow him.
• 56:05
  And he'll provide you with spiritual assurance and practical direction for living a godly life.
• 56:05
  And he'll provide you with spiritual assurance and practical direction for living a godly life, meaning nothing complicated, nothing super, but a one on one friendship with him.
• 56:13
  Meaning nothing complicated, nothing super, but a one-on-one friendship with him.
• 56:22
  Trusting, loving, faithful friendship with him for the rest of your life.
• 56:22
  Trusting, loving, faithful friendship with him for the rest of your life.
• 56:27
  Because you will be that good man or woman.
• 56:27
  Because you will be that good man or woman who will be ordered by God to take this step and that step.
• 56:33
  And boy, will he delight in what you're doing and in the friendship he has in you.
• 56:41
  God bless you.
• 56:42
  God bless America.