WHAT’S ON WHAT’S UP TODAY:

What motivates you to make a difference?

How has God spoken to you and yours that the country is on the wrong track?

Meet Jon Bonck – you will be glad you did!

PLUS: Emily Washburn: THE DARK SIDE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Is AI teaching children and teens how to commit suicide?

Last Segment of Mark Lanier's Biblical-Literacy Lesson:
  The Marriage Lesson.

Last Segment of Pastor Jarrett Stephens' Recent Sermon @ Champion Forest -
  A Risky Faith.

Today’s closing prayer:
Ever-Present Father,
Thank you for being so very close to me, watching over my every step, hearing my every word, and knowing my every thought...more below…

Discussed by Terry Lowry
with Host of the What's UP Radio Program

Host Terry Lowry interviews influential and knowledgeable guests on relevant topics for today.

MEET JON BONCK – CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS, DISTRICT 38

Discussed by Jon Bonck
with Jon Bonck (www.jonbonck.com/)

When the odds are against you, you buckle up and hang on for the ride.

Jon Bonck knew he had to do something when his wife broke down in tears after seeing the Veritas videos exposing Planned Parenthood selling baby body parts. So, Jon has decided the best way to fight for the lives of babies, every Texan, and every American is to run for Congress.

Click here for more information about Jon Bonck’s campaign for Congress, District 38.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Has Jon Bonck ever run for elective office?

What is driving Jon to run for Congress? Jon passionately discusses the need to keep freedom free in America.

What are the anchoring principles and solid core values that guide Jon? Jon is a strong Christian and explains how Biblical principles guide every decision he makes.

How much money has Jon Bonck raised for his campaign?

Why is Jon’s wife so active in pro-life ministry?

What is Jon’s path to victory in the upcoming 2026 Republican Primary? Jon likes to say “There’s no secret sauce to fundraising” and he is willing to dig in and get his hands dirty – in a GOOD way!

Click here to help support Jon Bonck’s bid for Congress, District 38.

THE DARK SIDE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Discussed by Emily Washburn
with Daily Citizen (DailyCitizen.com)

Disclaimer: Use caution when listening to this segment around young children. Issues discussed may be upsetting or hard for little ones to understand.

Conversational Artificial Intelligence Platforms such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and others can be a helpful resource for students working on a term paper or finding out the date of this year’s autumnal equinox. But is there a dark side that no one wants to talk about?

Emily Washburn is an Issues Analyst at the Daily Citizen, an online publication for Focus on the Family.

Click here to read more from Emily Washburn on this and other issues.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

When we call a helpline, are we talking with a real, live person, or are we often talking to a machine – talking with Artificial Intelligence?

Why is it so dangerous for our kids to interact with AI?

Are people using AI to research suicide and how to kill themselves? Emily Washburn tells the tragic story of one teen.

What precautions should parents and grandparents make?

Click here to help support the Daily Citizen and Focus on the Family.

THE MARRIAGE PRINCIPLE

Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)

Day 5

Over the past several weeks, as part of his lesson series on Romans, Mark Lanier has looked at Romans 6 and Paul’s warning to the people (and to us) about the consequence of sin. This week, he begins to break down Paul’s interjection of the law in Romans 7, specifically the changes in the marriage law in the Torah before Christ and what it means now after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

To view Mark Lanier’s video for this lesson, click here.

If you have a prayer request, need Scripture encouragement, or would like a copy of Mark’s lessons each week, email wantmore@biblical-literacy.org

QUESTIONS / ISSUES DISCUSSED:

THE APPLICATION OF THE MARRIAGE PRINCIPLE (Romans 7:4-6)

What is the purpose of marriage? To procreate!

What is the purpose of the Gospel? To procreate!

Why should we be “aroused” to share the Gospel? Mark shares a great story about Texas Tech football fans throwing tortillas onto the football field after a touchdown. He also shares an interesting illustration about bananas, which can be found at the one-hour mark at the link above.

Does the Torah marriage law still apply to us today? How does Paul explain it in these verses? Mark breaks it down this way: We have moved from the law to marrying Christ.

POINT FOR HOME:

Stop saying “I’m not good enough.”


For more information about Mark Lanier’s Biblical Literacy class, click here.

A RISKY FAITH

Discussed by Pastor Jarrett Stephens
with Champion Forest Baptist Church (www.ChampionForest.org)

Day 5

WHAT IS CAUSING YOU TO NOT TAKE THAT STEP OF FAITH? DOES IT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE, ILLOGICAL, AND UNBEARABLE?

Over the past few months, Pastor Jarrett Stephens has been telling stories about ordinary people who trusted God in extraordinary ways from the Book of Hebrews. And maybe – just maybe – you will be challenged to step beyond complacency and embrace a faith that is active, resilient, and fully surrendered.

This week, Pastor Jarrett looks at three different people – Moses, Joshua, and Rahab – who all trusted God in very difficult circumstances and everything turned out just perfectly.

SOME GREAT QUOTES SHARED BY PASTOR JARRETT:

A.W. Tozer: “God never calls His people to play it safe.”

Elisabeth Elliot: “If we are to have faith, we must learn to risk – risk our comfort, our plans, even our lives – for the sake of Christ.” Pastor Jarrett shares WHY Elizabeth said this. It’s an amazing story!

Louie Giglio: “Faith and risk are inseparable. You can’t stay in the boat and walk on the water at the same time.”

Martin Luther King Jr.: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

Hudson Taylor: “Unless there is an element of risk in our exploits for God, there is no need for faith.” Pastor Jarrett recommends reading the book: “Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret”.

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 11:29-31

Find Pastor Jarrett Stephens’ sermon here.

Find Pastor Jarrett Stephens’ sermon notes here.

If you have questions about a sermon, please contact Champion Forest at questions@cfbc.org

Questions/Issues Discussed:

A RISKY FAITH TRUSTS GOD WHEN THE COST SEEMS UNBEARABLE

Yesterday, Pastor Jarrett told the story of Rahab, the prostitute who helped the Israelites when they conquered Jericho. (Joshua 2:1-11)

Did Rahab know who God was? If not, where did her faith come from? How did she know that helping Joshua and the Israelites was the right thing to do? (James 2:25)

Did you know that JESUS is a descendant of RAHAB??? AMAZING!!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Whatever God is calling you to do – even if it seems impossible, illogical, and unbearable – take the step and make the move in FAITH.


If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, text the word JESUS to 77069 and a pastor or counselor from CFBC will call you back.

For more details about Champion Forest Baptist Church click here.

PRAYER

Discussed by Terry Lowry
with Host of the What's UP Radio Program

Ever-Present Father,

Thank you for being so very close to me, watching over my every step, hearing my every word, and knowing my every thought.

You, Creator of All, keep count of the very number of hairs on my head.

As I face the struggles and challenges of life, fill me to overflowing.

I will shake my fist at the evil one and his minions. I will not partake in their schemes. I will turn from evil and run from it.

May I not grow weary doing good and continue with your assigned tasks.

May I not neglect hiding your Word in my heart.

May I never stop lifting loved ones and friends to your throne room, pleading for your blessings and mercy upon their lives.

May I see clearly the path before me, illuminated by the light of your precious son, Jesus Christ.

Be in the center of all my decisions. Today, may your will be done – not mine.

I will not cower or turn away. With your armor and the Holy Spirit, I will go forth conquering demons who oppose your Word and your will.

Now Father, use me. I surrender my all to you.

And if you grant me tomorrow, let’s repeat.

All for the cause of Christ, in whose name I pray,

Amen