The church has always advanced through suffering. The same Jesus who warned of persecution also promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Psalm 37 ends not in despair but in refuge: the Lord is the stronghold of the righteous in the time of trouble.

After months away recovering from major spinal surgery, I’m back with a sober reflection on one of the most urgent issues facing our nation. In this episode of Stories from the Wilderness, I examine the real record of communism through the Soviet Union (USSR), Communist China (CCP), and Cuba (PCC). From shared Marxist-Leninist roots to stark differences in ideology, economics, repression, and outcomes, these experiments reveal a consistent pattern of tyranny, economic failure, and human suffering—despite their promises of equality and justice.

As a veteran and follower of Christ, I share these historical truths from a Christian perspective: the dangers of centralized power, the fallen nature of man, and the need to guard our liberties. With young, often inexperienced candidates influenced by communist-inspired ideas gaining traction—promoted by groups like the Democratic Socialists of America, Justice Democrats, and Our Revolution—we must learn from the past rather than repeat it.

Join me as we explore similarities and differences, and why vigilance, informed voting, and reliance on God’s grace matter now more than ever.

If this resonates with you, please share, subscribe, and reflect on these lessons. Scripture reminds us that we wrestle not just against flesh and blood. Stay faithful in the wilderness.

This is Patrick Oliver Griswold. God bless.

In a culture where every disagreement becomes a battlefield and every conviction earns a label, it’s easy to harden your heart. But Scripture calls believers to something far more difficult — to stand firm in truth without losing compassion for the very people who oppose it. In this episode, Patrick reflects on the spiritual blindness driving today’s outrage, the trap of anger that waits for all of us, and the narrow road Christ walked before us. This is a call to clarity, courage, and mercy in an age that has forgotten all three.