Venezuela: A Historical Context Pt 1

The nation of Venezuela is a pretty hot topic these days – and rightfully so. The history of deadly drug trafficking into the US, the theft through nationalization of almost an entire oil industry and other factors have led to the recent arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

Join Bud and his guest co-host Venezuelan native and Integrity member Omar Lugo, as they take a look back at the history of this wonderful nation that used to be one of the richest per capita in the world. Omar traces the nation’s ups and downs from as far back as the late 1800s, and bring us up to the late 1900s when the terms of presidents like Carlos Andrés Pérez and Rafael Caldera naively set the stage for events that would lead to the authoritarian rule of both Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro. Omar outlines the collapse of freedom and the national economy, as well as the rise of communism, corruption, and an open border that would diminish a once strong national sense of morality.

Way back in the 4th century A.D. the birth of Jesus came to be celebrated on December 25 in order to align the Christmas celebration with pagan holidays and other celebrations that typically occurred around that time of year. At least that us what many Christians think. Is that really the case? Well, maybe – and maybe not. Kevin and Bud discuss some obscure historical research that sheds some light on this important question. Take a listen. You may be surprised!

In today’s podcast, the guys take on a topic that may seem a bit off-balance. Actor turned Evangelist Kirk Cameron, a solid follower of Christ and teacher, made waves recently when he cited a shift in his belief about the afterlife. Cameron noted a move away from the idea that those who die without Jesus exist eternally in torment in hell, toward the idea that ultimately, the unbeliever – their body, soul and spirit, is completely destroyed, and thus delivered from the suffering that would occur in hell.

Kevin and Bud discuss some of the merits of both sides of this issue, and reveal why this is an important topic that Christians need to have an understanding of.

In today’s 12:2 podcast, Kevin and Bud give their thoughts on the ‘affordability crisis’ that seemed to drive so much of the November 5 voting, when so many democrats were swept into office. They also tie this affordability crisis to the spiked inflationary pressures under the Biden administration, as well as the rise of socialism itself in the United States. The fellows also dive into a discussion on inflation and why higher prices will not – and cannot – naturally dome down. In response to all of this, Kevin shares some of the critical things that Christ-followers need to do in order to deal with this situation.

In the latest 12:2 Podcast, Kevin and Bud talk about some of the true motivation behind the lack of willingness of congress to work together to end the government shutdown, and to move forward the programs that folks truly need (as opposed to the many that we don’t need….) to get by in our society. The guys discuss the seeming lack of understanding of the motivations of Service and Power (nearly always opposing motivations), and talk about how many start out with good intentions (service) but move toward power, the longer they are in elected positions. They become co-opted, as Kevin says. Our hosts close with some words on the current problem of the American economy being built on a very limited platform of banking and real estate, and how the work of the current administration is trying to reinstate sectors of manufacturing and high-end services, where real value can be created.

In this week’s 12:2 Podcast, Kevin and Bud look back at the original meanings and historical contexts of terms like Nationalism, Fascism and Socialism, and demonstrate how these words are continually being re-defined to fit whatever political target that progressives want to go after. For instance, the term ‘nationalism’ originated largely with movements like National Socialism in Germany (Nazi) and Italy. Progressivism now is even attempting to ‘reposition’ the meaning of word ‘patriotism’ to mean the same type of forceful, despotic ‘nationalistic’ leadership deployed by heads of state like Mussolini and Hitler. The guys even touch on how the current government shutdown is being by driven economic factors that have roots in some of these diabolical and historical movements.

Bud and Kevin discuss the peace deal in the Middle East, and what it means to be grafted into the "Olive Tree" through Jesus

In today’s edition of the 12:2 Podcast, Kevin and Bud offer their thoughts about the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service. They share their key takeaways and most impactful moments from the event. Plus - they wind up the conversation with a unique take on what it means to be truly ‘authentic’.

In the next edition, the guys delve into some of the terms that tend to get thrown around these days to describing those who hold traditional / conservative values, like ‘fascist’, ‘racist’, ‘Marxist’, etc.