Rick Green [00:00:06] Welcome to The WallBuilders Show, and Merry Christmas. I know it was yesterday, but in Barton tradition, we're gonna say Merry Christmas every day for the next 365 days based on the argument he made on Christmas Eve. I think it would make sense. 

David Barton [00:00:19] Look, I've already got the countdown clock going, so only 364 days until the next time I restart the countdown. It's not 364 to Christmas, it's 364 the time I start the countdown, it's Christmas right now. It's Christmas plus one, Christmas plus two, Christmas plus three. You just gotta get the right perspective on this bro.

Rick Green [00:00:37] I'm catching on. That's why I started with Merry Christmas and of course that voice you just heard folks That's David Barton that laugh you hear in the background. That that's Tim Barton and I'm Rick Green So seriously Merry Christmas, and you know, I think guys it's Good News Friday, of course. We always do good news on on Friday or try to but it's almost like picking up from our Christmas Eve program Because we were hitting some of the the big you know victories this year and just some of things that have been happening and So before I even ask you guys for some good news The biggest good news I think of the whole year is maybe at least the most impactful is president Trump being inaugurated on January 20th of this year. Right? I mean, we, we know that was a reprieve for our country. And I don't think any of the three of us predicted how many wins we would get this year in 2025 as a result of him being president. And remember how we were January, February, March? We're just whack-a-mole, man. We're trying to get all the news stories. We're, trying to cover all the good stuff that happened. So I would just say in general, wow! What a year, what good news we have to share that 2025 was America coming back from the brink. 

Tim Barton [00:01:43] Well, guys, I would be super interested if we got an AI, and somebody out there listening right now is probably gonna do this for us, and I thank you already, whoever's gonna send us this email giving us the AI breakdown. I would super curious what the most consistent theme would have been from good news. And Rick, I think without question, it would be something President Trump has done and something from Washington, D.C., something from the Pentagon. It is remarkable. I think if you look at the last couple of years, certain years, you might have had things on life, on Planned Parenthood being closed down or defunded. But the fact that last year, I don't know that we hardly got through a Friday without mention of President Trump's name with something positive that had been going on. And again, it is be interesting to have AI go through our Good News Friday programs and do a breakdown and say, here is. You know the list of the top topics you know you mentioned these two hundred times or four hundred times are hundred fifty whatever was. I bet President Trump is by far and away the number one thing we covered in Good News Friday because of what he has accomplished, in this year alone. And of course, one of the things that we will advocate a lot for this next year with the midterms coming up the reason it does matter who is in office is because if some of what President Trump has done through executive order doesn't happen legislatively are the next president come in and undo some of those things. So, it does matter that some of this gets put in the legislation. But, man, the amount of good news that had President Trump is quite astounding. 

Rick Green [00:03:22] He might've been number one, number two, number three, number four, right? Yeah. And he was the top 10. I see. David, sorry, go ahead, man.

David Barton [00:03:31] Going in that in that same framework of direction, Tim, that the percentage of stories. And by the way 52 weeks in the year. We do a Good News Friday essentially every week. We might have missed a couple because of specials. So, let's say there were 50 weeks and we'll cover anywhere from two to seven stories in a Good News Friday. So, let us say it averages five that's going to be about 250 stories out there that we probably covered this last year Good News stories and think even if it's 25 percent. That, that Trump was part of, you're still looking like 70 stories in there. 65, 70, that's a lot. And my, my first story of the post-Christmas program that we've got here actually deals with President Trump and what happened at Christmas at the Kennedy center. We talked about this earlier. 

Tim Barton [00:04:19] Excuse me. Hey, can you clarify where did it happen? 

[00:04:23] At the, the, oh, no, it's right. It's got a new center now. They've changed the name. It's the Trump-Kennedy Center. 

Tim Barton [00:04:31] Yeah, I don't know the Kennedy Center. 

David Barton [00:04:32] Yeah, it's a new one. 

Tim Barton [00:04:33] There was a building that used to be the Kennedy Center, yeah. 

David Barton [00:04:36] That's right. And so now the Trump- Kennedy Center and, and, you know, Trump got that and said, this is so far out of touch with where Americans are and he brought it back to wholesome kind of entertainment, not the drag shows, everything. And you mentioned a fine arts center of that, of that capacity with that capability of that high pedigree doing the trashy stuff that was being done in it, and he has so turned that around and made it family friendly and, and the kind of programs are doing now. And so, you know, we just had this great. Christmas program and Charles Billingsley was part of the headliner on that and I saw where he's done like 3,200 concerts. He's the teaching pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Litzburg. So, a teaching pastor that's quite a musician, quite a renowned musician, and one of the headliners at the Kennedy Center. So, we thought it'd be fun to talk to him about what he's been doing at the Kennedy Center with the program. All right we're gonna take a quick break. We come back Charles Billingley with us. You're listening to The WallBuilders Show. 

Rick Green [00:06:37] Welcome back to the WallBuilders show. Thanks for staying with us, Charles Billingsley with us. Of course, the Thomas Road Baptist Church and you've heard tons of his music. Charles, great to have y'all, man. Thanks for coming on WallBuilders. 

Charles Billingsley [00:06:46] Hey, thank you, Rick. Good to be on with you today, man.

Rick Green [00:06:49] We were just talking about how amazing the turnaround has been all year long in so many things in our country. But the fact that you're at the Kennedy Center doing a Christmas show and a nativity and all of that versus what they used to have at the Kennedy Center, we just had to find out how that happened and tell us about how, how the show's going to work. 

[00:07:06] Yeah, no, no transgender dancing this year. And, it was pretty awesome, Rick. I mean, I'm gonna, I just, I couldn't believe it. I, when I got that call and, and listen, we put the whole thing together in six weeks, it was crazy. But I got a call, from the Kennedy Center, by way of a buddy of mine who is a, named Johnny Moore, he does a ton of wonderful things. 

Rick Green [00:07:30] Oh yeah. He used to be at Liberty, right? 

Charles Billingsley [00:07:31] Yes. Yes. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yeah well him and him and the ambassador Rick Grennell are good friends and he called me he said, hey listen we've got these dates on the Kennedy Center calendar to do a first ever inaugural Christmas show. The only problem is we don't have a show. So, he said, can you put together one? And I said, well, no, because I'm on a tour. But, at the same time, I said that I could bring my show to you and maybe we could alter it a little bit just to make it work for this year. And then, you know, maybe this can become an, an annual event where we just build on it and make it better and better. So that's kind of what we did. I basically brought my big band Christmas show to them. But we added Matthew West. We added to random green. We added a nativity scene and, man, it turned out to be one amazing night. And the other thing was I was afraid nobody was going to show up because Kennedy Center has never done anything like this, never.  And believe it or not, man. The place was packed. They did a big tree lighting ceremony, which was also a first for the Kennedy Center. We had a live nativity outside and all kinds of just fun stuff happening. And man, it turned out to be one amazing night. And, and the coolest part about the whole thing, Rick, sorry, I know I'm talking a bunch. 

Rick Green [00:08:53] This is great, man. I love it. 

Charles Billingsley [00:08:56] Well, the coolest thing about the deal was about, about four weeks out, you know, Rick, the ambassador wanted to see the program and all this. So, I gave it to him and I said, look, you know, again, it's kind of a band-aid because we're putting this thing together pretty quick, but he goes, no, no. I love it. I love it. He goes, one request though. I said what? He goes could we have a little bit more worship time and could you be sure to share the gospel? Oh, wow. And I almost fainted. I could not believe what I was hearing, but man, times sure have changed. And I will say for the better, my friend. 

Rick Green [00:09:29] I'm just thinking, I'm thinking back to Trump's Easter, you know, proclamation that he did that was just so bold and it was just like, I mean, the gospel proclaimed from the highest level, you know, so from March to now and, and Christmas, and you being able to do a show like this at the Kennedy Center, it is just a complete reversal of where we were, what, what. Praise God! Man, this is just, we, I think we should so enjoy this moment. 

Charles Billingsley [00:09:53] Yeah, literally, you know, and who knows what the future of our nation holds. But I want to tell you right now, with this administration, this president, I am so encouraged with what is going on in our country in so many ways. And it's just is powerful to watch, man. I mean, I never thought I'd ever get a chance to do a concert at the Kennedy Center, let alone it be packed out, let alone have the freedom to just proclaim the truth of the gospel and the real reason for the season. So. It's been quite an honor, man. 

Rick Green [00:10:26] Amen! What a blessing, what a blessing! Well, before I let you go, what's going on for you in the spring? You got another tour coming up or you just finishing the Christmas tour and then headed home for a while? 

Charles Billingsley [00:10:33] Yeah, you know what, I'm finishing this. We've done 29 events in 25 days. And so I'm kind of done for a while. And, we've got events coming up in the spring, but it doesn't get really crazy again till about March. So, man, I’m going to lay low and go someplace warm for a week or so. And, of course I'm a, I am a pastor at my church. So that never stops, but at the same time, you know, things will slow down a little bit. And then we crank out a new record in the spring and here we go again!

Rick Green [00:11:00] Well, praise God, man! We'll rest up and thank you for being ready and able. You know, it's almost like God prepared you to be able to do that last minute like that. Even the whole tour that you already had planned and the show and being able to adapt it. If it hadn't been for a lifetime of experience, you wouldn't have been able to take that call and meet that opportunity. So, praise God for that. 

Charles Billingsley [00:11:20] Yeah, you're so right, man. 33 years of doing this will keep you in a state of readiness for sure. So, I appreciate it, man, and thanks for all you guys do at WallBuilders, bro. 

Rick Green [00:11:29] You bet. Well, I appreciate you coming on, man. And we'll see you in the spring. 

Charles Billingsley [00:11:33] Thank you, sir. God bless you guys!

Rick Green [00:11:35] You bet, that's Charles Billingsley. Stay with us, folks. We'll be right back with David and Tim Barton. 

Rick Green [00:12:45] Welcome back to the WallBuilders Show. Well, that was a good news Friday story, but actually told by the guy that's living out the good news. So Charles Billingsley, thank you for being with us here on this good news Friday back with David and Tim now. And so, you said at the beginning, David, so it's, it's been renamed the Trump-Kennedy center. Is that, is that the way you say it? 

David Barton [00:13:04] That's the way they've named it. The board of the Kennedy Center, or former Kennedy Center has moved and renamed it the Trump-Kennedy Center. So that is now the official name for the former Kennedy center is the Trump-Kennedy Center. So yeah, that's official. 

Rick Green [00:13:18] Once they put the sign outside, are they gonna keep track of the number of car accidents of liberals freaking out when they drive by and they see Trump-Kennedy Center? Could be a hazard. 

David Barton [00:13:30] Oh, especially in Washington, D C that I mean, maybe, maybe in Fort Worth, Texas, you know, maybe and Chattanooga, Tennessee, but in Washington DC? 

Rick Green [00:13:42] No kidding. 

David Barton [00:13:43] To have Trump as the headliner on that fine arts center, yeah, that's pretty different. 

Rick Green [00:13:49] No doubt, no doubt. All right. I think we count that whole thing as David's first good news Friday item for the day. So, Tim, I think were tossing to you, man. What's your, what's your first good new today? 

Tim Barton [00:14:00] Well, I am torn between two, I'm going to go with what I think is a wonderful piece of good news. Actually, they both are. I don't even know how to transition that thought, but the first headline says Appeals Court Rules President Trump Can Defund Planned Parenthood. And guys, when the song that many people love to hate, Mariah Carey, All I Want for Christmas is You. If I was saying, look, there's one thing I want for Christmas. This might've been on the list. If we could just defund Planned Parenthood, like all I want for Christmas is you, defund Planned Parenthood, that's the one. And the fact that Trump continues to do things, to advance the pro-life cause we have mentioned this before about him. Which is kind of mind boggling to think about. And then this is the guy obviously with the checkered past. Obviously in the context that we know the Bible says there's none righteous, no not one, that all have sinned and fallen short of the will of God, but some people were better sinners than others, right? Some people were like really good at sinning and President Trump probably in those earlier days, he was one of those you're like, he was really good in sinning. He did a great job at it. Clearly, he is not a perfect person. But to see how God has used him and the fact that as a president, we've never had a president that has done things that were more pro-life, defending life. We've never had a president do things to advance the cause of religious liberty, religious freedom more. And the fact, that President Trump and what he did with the big, beautiful bill, defunding Planned Parenthood, there were all these legal challenges to it and this headline is just highlighting the fact that on the middle of December, a federal appeals court upheld a key provision of President Donald Trump's signature domestic policy bill, allowing the administration to defund Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. So, this had been challenged. It had been one and challenged. And so that at this point, you finally have the federal appeals court saying, guys, they're allowed to do this. They don't have to fund Planned Parenthood. And now that there's a federal appeals Court acknowledging it, guys, this is just, it's absolutely incredible. Again, thinking of the fact that God uses all kinds of people and all of us are grateful for that because all of us know that we're not perfect. And if we were just qualified for sin, we'd have all been disqualified from like boyhood, right? For sure. God is, is not limited to using people who are not sinners. In fact, go read Hebrews 11 and that list of God's faith Hall of Fame is filled with people wh, at times did pretty awful things and yet and there were moments when in faith they operated in special ways and God use them in incredible ways to accomplish great good. And this is certainly something I see with President Trump and just to reiterate this headline appeals court rules President Trump can defund Planned Parenthood which is. Which his One Big Beautiful Bill did. So, guys really really great news that after a long year legal challenges federal appeals court says yeah, it's fine you can defund Planned Parenthood. 

Rick Green [00:17:12] And I'm praying that we're going to have a lot of good news this year on Fridays, this coming year that are court victories, just based on the questioning as some of these cases were heard over the last month or two, it looks like some of those are going to go the right direction. So hopefully we're gonna be sharing more good news from the courts and not even like in the summer, even in the next few months as some of those decisions will be released. All right, David, you get another shot, man. You got half the program, because I'm counting Billingsley's entire interview as one of your good news items. 

David Barton [00:17:45] Well, should I toss it back to Tim so he can catch up? 

Rick Green [00:17:46] No. 

David Barton [00:17:47] Would that help? 

Rick Green [00:17:47] No, we're not about being fair around here. Life's not fair, right? 

David Barton [00:17:52] Hey, I will point out, fair is not a biblical word in that sense. 

Rick Green [00:17:57] That's right. 

[00:17:58] It's not about what's fair. So that's really good. Everybody's got a definition of that. So jumping in on my next one, I'm gonna go to something that I really struck with in a positive way coming out of the Pentagon. We talked in the last couple of weeks about things, changes going to the Pentagon, We talked about what Pete Hegseth is doing is restoring chaplains, putting them back to the role they traditionally had from Washington when he had them elevated so high and it got so low under Obama and Biden where they were trying to get rid of chaplain's out of the military and go to hired contractors. And so now we're back to having chaplains with the key role. Now we're Back to faith in the military. Now we're back to that whole aspect, there's no question we've got the greatest military in the world. I mean, what happened with taking out Iran, the capability of going so deep into the ground to blow up something that was protected by stone on all sides for hundreds of feet. I mean, you just, it is unbelievable the kind of capabilities that we have and even the secret things that people don't even know about. It's just, it's phenomenal. And so now the next frontier is what do you do with AI? Because all these bad nations have access to AI. They have access to all the planning and really, wargaming that can be done with AI and it gives them a real advantage because AI is a lot smarter than a lot of their generals are. And so as you look at what can come down through that kind of technology, the Pentagon's trying to be ahead of all of that and trying to figure out what we can do and the Pentagon, and this is the good news. They say in many ways, their hands are tied in many ways, we will not be able to use AI the way that other nations use it. I say that saying that that doesn't sound like good news that that we have a disadvantage, but I'll explain the advantage a minute. Here's the disadvantage and this is the Pentagon chief over AI was talking about the limitations that we and he said the limitations we have is because of our Judeo-Christian Foundation he said regardless of what your beliefs are. Our says, and by the way This is the general that was in charge of that he said regardless what your belief are our society is a Judeo-Christian society and we have a moral compass, not everybody does. And there are those that are willing to go to the ends, regardless of what means have to be employed and we to be ready for that. And this is Lieutenant General Richard Moore, so three-star general. He's the Air Force deputy chief of staff for plans and programs. And he said, what will our adversary do? He said, well, it depends on who plays by the rules of warfare and who doesn't. There are societies that have a very different foundation from ours. And so. He just he was looking at wars and conflicts around the world and he said we're bound by morals We're bound. By a Judeo-Christian belief system not the ends don't justify the means and everything but we're finding a lot of people who do believe that and I thought you know that that really is a disadvantage for us in some ways But that's where that because we believe that there is a spiritual realm We believe that God does get involved in the affairs of man. We see throughout the Bible where he chooses sides with armies and will cause armies to flounder when they were much bigger and should have defeated Israel and they didn't. I think it's good news to me that we acknowledge that the end does not justify the means in America and that you have a three-star general who's over this AI and planning, doing war games and saying, hey, we're at a disadvantage because we have these values, but that's still the right thing to do. And I just consider that to be a really, really, really good piece of news from those who are managing our troops and managing our plans and managing how we interface with wars and what we do with other nations. The fact that they realize that foundation, know that there is a God of armies who does get involved on the side of right. That's such an advantage for America, even though it seems like a disadvantage to not be able to use the end justifies the means philosophy that other nations use. 

Rick Green [00:21:53] And acknowledges the very value system that made us great in the first place. Tim next piece of good news, man. 

Tim Barton [00:21:59] Well, I would like to talk about the fact that I got camo and ammunition yesterday, but I'm going to let that go, uh, even though that's a great piece of good news for me, uh but it, I feel like it does kind of relate. 

Rick Green [00:22:12] Wait, wait, did Tim just say he's mailing me ammunition and camo? I think that's what I just heard. Don't play it back, Justin, but if you could just distort it enough that it sounds like that, then we'll send it anyway. 

Tim Barton [00:22:24] Well, when, when I very shortly come down to a Constitutional Defense, I needed ammo to be able to run the course. 

Rick Green [00:22:32] That's good. 

Tim Barton [00:22:33] So that, that that's anyway, not, not to digress. I'll see you soon. I'll show you my new camo. I'll shoot my rounds. That'll be great. Uh, speaking of shooting some rounds, this article says us strikes ISIS targets in Syria. 

Rick Green [00:22:45] Oh yeah! 

Tim Barton [00:22:46] In response to killing of Americans. So, guys, last week on December 19th, there was the strike in Syria. It was known as Operation Hawkeye Strike. And it, guys, it feels silly for me that seeing something and knowing that probably is like a legit military title. And I read it and I'm like, it sounds like it's from like Marvel, the Avengers or something, right? It's Operation Hawk Eye Strike, it's silly now, but. In this operation, they struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations. The Pentagon shared that fighter jets, attack helicopters, artillery were used in the center of the country in Syria. What's also really fun about this article, it says the Jordanian armed forces supported the operations with fighter aircraft. Now this is humorous to me. They could have been very, very talented. Gifted pilots, great aircraft, which we probably sold to them, but saying that the Jordanian armed forces assisted America in the strike. I read this and I'm like, this is like in my mind, if Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Steph Curry, right. Shaquille O'Neal, they're like, hey, we need somebody else to run with us in this group of five. Hey, Tim, why don't you come with us? And I'm, like, yeah, I'm going to help you guys get a win, right? Like that's, that's a Jordanian army in my, helping the Americans in this operation. But this was to remind everybody, this was a response to the ambush of American troops, specifically which killed two army soldiers, there was a civilian interpreter that was also killed the wounded three others in Syria. And they said, this is a lone gunman. It was an ISIS individual and so the response was directed to ISIS. Hegseth posted on X, he says, as we'd said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans anywhere in the world, you will spend the rest of your brief anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you. 

Rick Green [00:24:43] Wow. 

Tim Barton [00:24:44] And guys, the testosterone in my body just increased reading that text. Right. Just it's incredible. And I say this knowing that there are, there's a lot of people that, and the Christian side would read this and go, hey, we're supposed to love people. Yes. As a Christian individual, you are called the love people, but in Romans 13 It says the government was given the sword and they're not given the sword in vain. The sword was a weapon of war. It was used to make war and to kill people. And that's exactly what governments are supposed to do at times is to uphold righteous standards and really to execute righteous judgment, which at times means executing bad guys. But the fact that we now don't have a commander in chief that's giving away military bases to terrorist organizations that we know have a Commander in Chief who is fully supportive of saying you find the bad guys and you take them out. It is such a refreshing change. And one of the things that President Trump said is that this is a warning to any terrorist wishing to harm Americans. And I think this was a very clear warning when there's one bad guy who killed three individuals, two of them American soldiers, and then there's 70 strike locations, a hundred different aircraft and things involved. Like this is. This is a big deal and I think speaks very loudly. And to me, that is very good news that we are sending a message to terrorists, that we have a president who will protect the American people. 

Rick Green [00:26:11] I love the way you described it, Tim. It's the, it's the opposite of the, you know, so-and-so says so- and-so, which is dumb and we're all more dumb for hearing it. Instead, it's Pete Hegseth when he speaks, all men's testosterone increases just as a result of hearing how amazing of the American military is once again. So anyway, really cool, really good stuff. Again, just great victories all throughout 2025. Our last Good News Friday of the year, but we will have a lot more good news to bring to you in 2026. Have a fantastic weekend. You've been listening to The WallBuilders Show.