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.

When Babylon Wears a Cross: Evil Camouflaged
When I read this past week that the Anglican Church held an election to install the new Archbishop of Canterbury, I felt compelled to piece together an essay about the end time church. Everything about their chosen candidate speaks to the Anglican Church falling away from Christ and into the hands of the son of perdition. When the disciples asked Jesus what the end of the age would look like, I'm guessing he was seeing this event happening.

We’ll talk about the crafty advance of false religion we all feel—holy language used to bless what God doesn’t, pulpits drifting into politics, and a thin “unity” that avoids truth.

And we'll examine how we as Christians can deal with it's infiltration into the Church today.

Cities in Ashes: The False Gospel of Socialism — When leaders forget the One who gave them authority, cities change. We walk through L.A., Charlotte, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York with Scripture in hand (Isa. 5:20; Rom. 13; Mic. 6:8), separating mercy from neglect and theater from service. Not a call to rage—a call to truth, justice, and courage under Christ.Rate, follow, and share if you enjoyed this podcast. Send questions or stories from your city to ⁠polivergris@gmail.com⁠.

IIn this episode of Stories from the Wilderness, Patrick Oliver Griswold shares his poem The Wheat and the Tares, drawn from the thirteenth chapter of Matthew. This isn’t about solving a parable or wrestling with it—it’s about learning to wait with it. To accept that both wheat and weeds grow in us, and still to know joy—the joy of Jesus—alive within us even as we walk through valleys of pain or sorrow.

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, America stands at a crossroads. Will our grief burn out in rage, or break open into revival?

In this episode of Stories from the Wilderness, Patrick Oliver Griswold reflects on the spark of awakening rising in our time. This is not a call to political revolt, but to prayer, repentance, and the bold witness of Christ.

Revival, not revolution — because street protests fade, but the Spirit of God reshapes nations.

On this September 11th, we remember nearly 3,000 lives lost in New York City twenty-four years ago, and we grieve the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a young Christian leader. Beyond politics, this is a war of kingdoms — the Light of Christ against the darkness of this world. Each of us must choose: Who will we serve?