David Spagnola: The Third Watch – Dangers, Toils and Snares

Dr. JB Hixson Mary welcomes pastor and author JB Hixson back to SUFTT to talk about toning down the chaos and pressure and spending time in the Lord’s presence. Life used to pace like a slow-cooker (“crock pot” for all you Boomer/Millennial types) but now it’s a pressure cooker, no longer even the front burner or microwave. Faster doesn’t mean better, and in the spiritual realm of things, faster and with a side of drama produces not much except Christianity Lite. Today we pace ourselves through 1 Kings 19 and the drama that was the life of Elijah at times. Having just gone through a tumult with the prophets of Baal, he finds himself in need of rest before he can go on. By the time he gets to that cave in Horeb, he’s depleted and depressed and wondering what’s next. It’s then that the Lord speaks to him, but in that still small way that we hear when the Spirit is working in hearts. After letting him pour out his heart, God sends him on his way. It’s not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit.       Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

[Originally aired 1/22/26] Mary welcomes back Trey Dellinger, the Senior Legal Fellow of AFA Action, the government affairs affiliate of American Family Association. Trey has his finger on the pulse of the moral issues that affect our churches and our families. Today we look at the current SCOTUS cases on trans athletes in women’s sports. Trey gives us the rundown on those cases and why he has reason for optimism. Then we look at the first amendment as it relates to protesters storming churches. Whether it’s for attention or to bait Christians about race and their perspectives on what is important, we have to see what our rights are as believers. We also take a look at how our kids can be better protected online, since parents aren’t always the best gatekeepers – although that is their job. Finally we look at Human Trafficking Prevention month. So many moral issues, how do we keep up, and how can we help pastors keep up as well?   Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

Screenshot For the first half of today’s edition of SUFTT, Mary welcomes Chris Chiles, director of the Immediate Response Team of God’s Pit Crew who are in Wisconsin to bring hope and relief to the Fox Valley to those suffering the aftermath of adverse weather.  Having dispatched multiple tractor-trailer loads of critical relief supplies from their HQ in Danville, Virginia, they are now in the process of clearing, comforting, and rebuilding. We talk about the ministry in general, what it takes to be able to offer their services at no charge to a community, and how they bring Jesus to those who lost everything in the blink of an eye.  Chris has such a heart for people, and the ministry has impacted lives around the globe. Also, where else are they needed this year, in a Summer of record heat, rain and wind? How can we come alongside them? Then in our 2nd half, Mary covers a few of the day’s top stories of interest to the believer.     Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

Mary welcomes Bill McKeever, longtime student and expert on Mormonism to the podcast, to give the listener a refresher on all things Mormon. With today’s emphasis on Mormonism being just another branch of Christianity, this gives an opportunity to have a clearer understanding of what they believe. We might hear the details once or twice, but many of us haven’t had time or inclination to really understand it. But most of us have or will encounter Mormons or Mormonism in the course of our Christian walk and so whatever we can glean from someone who has studied it for decades will probably prove to be useful. We discuss the main teachings, starting with their doctrine about the nature of God and Jesus; salvation, atonement, the priesthood, eternity, and so much more. Bill’s extensive understanding of this movement gives us an opportunity to sharpen our discernment.     Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

Tim and Mary talk about two very timely, and ancient destinies: the modern EU, destined to bring forth antichrist, and Israel, destined for redemption through Jesus Christ. The EU is at a crossroads in that the world sees it as a supranational failure of bureaucracy and potential tyranny. Israel has neighbor problems, but they will not only do what they must to survive, they will continue to pursue a Temple, and await the Messiah. The Sanhedrin met recently to petition heaven to reveal her Messiah and rebuild that third Temple. They also want the spirit of prophecy revived, but Jesus IS their Prophet, Priest, and King. What a time to be alive, to see these parallel tracks of fulfillment come ever closer to one another. The future is set by God Himself, and we are at the edge of our seats. Another full hour of watching and waiting, observing and monitoring. Come Lord Jesus!   Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

Mary welcomes author and watchman David Spagnola to talk about what we need to heed in this late hour regarding the church. The “third watch” of the night in the Bible represented a specific military guard shift and symbolized alertness, readiness and things that go bump in the deep night. As a church, David warns us in his book, “The Silent Pulpit” of the dangers, toils and snares of the times we live in, specifically things preachers no longer preach.  As a watchman, he exposes the patterns that churches have fallen into, thinking they are simply “doing church” when in reality the slide toward lukewarmness is so far gone, one wonders what the church was ever supposed to look like anymore. David has a love for the church and Bible prophecy and while writing about such things is grievous and sobering, to fail to warn the church is to be a watchmen that has fallen asleep on his or her shift. And at this point, it’s the late shifts that are the most difficult.   Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

[Originally aired 3/2/26]  Stand Up For The Truth features Dave Wager teaching solo, walking listeners through what he calls “four old lessons” from the book of Job, anchored by 1 Peter 5:8, the warning to stay alert because the devil prowls like a roaring lion. Dave frames the whole conversation around “principles” versus opinions, perspectives, or methods. Principles do not change, regardless of feelings or culture, and Job’s story is used as a clear example. He starts with Job 1, highlighting Job’s integrity and unusual blessing, then pulls back the curtain to Job 1:6 and the heavenly scene where God points to Job as blameless and upright, showing that what heaven calls “great” is character, not comfort. From there, Dave lays out the four lessons: (1) there is an active spiritual battle, (2) the fight centers on people, our allegiance and trust in God, (3) the crowd, even close friends, cannot define truth, and (4) believers must keep growing through humility and repentance. Along the way he illustrates spiritual attack with a vivid story about a cat tormenting a chipmunk, and he warns that deception often feels like “light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Job’s response to loss becomes a model for suffering with worship and steady truth (Job 1:21), and God’s questioning in Job 38 becomes a reminder to focus on what we know about God when we cannot explain what we are living through. Dave closes by re-centering “blessing” as being used by God to represent Him, not simply having ease, and points listeners to God’s higher ways (Isaiah 55:8–9) and His proven Word as refuge (Psalm 18:30).

Mary welcomes missionaries Bamshak Dagwer and his wife Makayla to talk about what it means to grow up in Nigeria under the unending threat of violence and persecution. They are the founders and directors of Seeds of Hope Nigeria, a Christ-centered ministry dedicated to restoring hope to vulnerable and displaced children through the love of Christ. Born and raised in Nigeria, Bamshak survived the horrific religious violence that has plagued his homeland for more than two decades. Witnessing the loss of loved ones and experiencing God’s miraculous protection transformed his life and ignited a calling to serve those whose lives have been shattered by conflict. Bamshak met his wife, Makayla, from Green Bay, Wisconsin, while serving as missionaries with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in the Philippines. After more than ten years of ministry together in the Philippines and Nigeria, they founded Seeds of Hope Nigeria in 2017 in response to God’s call to care for displaced children and share the hope of the Gospel. Under their leadership, it has grown into a thriving ministry that provides a safe home, Christian education, discipleship, vocational training, and pastoral care for vulnerable children. Their vision extends beyond meeting immediate needs—they are raising Christ-centered leaders who will bring lasting hope and transformation to Nigeria and beyond. We take our SUFTT conversation international, so the listener can get a taste for what God is doing in another corner of Christendom.     Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

Today Mary takes on the idea of Trojan Horses – that mythical wooden beast that was used to fool the citizens of Troy, thinking that the Greeks were bearing parting gifts when in reality they were intending to capture the city of Troy (modern day Turkey). No offense to Greeks, but it’s where we get the phrase, “beware Greeks bearing gifts” – which if you mean bible study, they have given us enough to study for a lifetime. Rather, today’s edition of SUFTT explores the finer points of Trojan Horses in our culture, which, in these highly deceptive times, are multiple. Ai, digital devices, politics, religious movements – all Trojan Horses that can deceive and derail and will ultimately bring humanity together under antichrist. We talk about Mamdani, Islam, Christianity, ravenous wolves looking like sheep – and all the ways we are being set up. But as believers, we must never be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we can discern God’s will. (Romans 12:2). Stand firm!   Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

On today’s edition of SUFTT, Tim and Mary look at the proverbial canary in the coal mine – warning shots, test patterns, wake up calls and shots across the bow – all things God uses to get our attention on the times. The prophets at the very least, who they chose not to listen to, embodied God’s early warning system. In this case, Israel being not just God’s time clock but is also a warning and a test as to how we will treat and deal with a regathered Israel that God will redeem. The professing church is failing at it in many ways, completely misunderstanding Scripture about how He feels about His people. God’s Word is still the plumb line. How Israel is treated is actually a wake up call as well, as will be how the world treats the church through hate crime legislation and flat out persecution. Many will lose their lives in the tribulation from martyrdom, the Bible is clear about that. Birth pangs too, are warnings that God uses to preview the tribulation. Is anyone listening?   Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A