December 2001/January 2002
Dear ones,
Much is happening, there is so much to share, and so little space, so
let's get started!
GREAT NEWS ABOUT NEWS
We have a great new addition to our web site! Agape Press is a news
service, just like the Associated Press or Reuters, except that it is
Christian. It has become my best single source of information on current
issues and events in the news. You can believe anything they publish,
and it is all written from a scriptural point of view. Now, it has been
added to our web site, and you can consult it directly yourself. Simply
go to our home page (the opening page), look in the lower left corner,
and click on the parts you want to read (I read it all daily). It is
updated every day at noon, Monday through Friday. I urge you to visit
our web site and check it out for yourself.
HARRY POTTER IS DANGEROUS
I don't recall a fad that has gripped children like the Harry Potter
stories. And many Christian parents are deceived, thinking that Harry
Potter is merely fantasy, comparable to C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia.
The difference is that Lewis' stories were based on Christian doctrine
and filled with Christian symbolism (e.g., the lion hero, Azlon, a sacrificial
Jesus character); Harry Potter stories are based on classic witchcraft,
and filled with mental and spiritual poison. If you find this hard to
believe, consider this fact: if you (or your child) does an internet
search for "Harry Potter," it will link you automatically
to more than one hundred real witchcraft web sites.
You don't have to take my word for it; please see the facts, carefully
laid out by expert researchers, including my dear friend Caryl Matrisciana,
in the new video, "Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged (Making
Evil Look Innocent)". You can order it by calling the office, or
by going to our web site. Tim LaHaye, co-author of the "Left Behind"
series, says about the video, "This video clears up many misunderstandings...
it is must viewing for those concerned about the growing interest in
witchcraft." Please inform yourself Harry Potter isn't
going to go away any time soon, and the danger is very real.
MORE ON THE CHANGES AT LIFELINE
Some of you have voiced concern over my article in the October/November
issue about policy changes at Lifeline, and our changing to Promise
Vision for our long distance service. Our friends at American Family
Association published an article by Durick Hayden about the contoversy.
I, personally, am a monthly financial supporter of American Family Association
(AFA) I have two subscriptions to AFA Journal, and Don Wildmon
is one of my heroes. I understand that AFA has a substantial financial
arrangement with Lifeline, a company Don has believed in (as I have);
but he trusts Hayden, and the Hayden article defending Lifeline and
disparaging Promise Vision is misleading; it contains a false statement.
No one has accused Lifeline of "merging" with MCI; what has
been stated here as a fact is that Lifeline has entered into a long
range contract with MCI as their primary carrier (provider of long distance
lines). Thus, every call you make with Lifeline will, to some extent,
enriches MCI and will be used to promote abortion, the radical homosexual
agenda, and their 1-900 telephone pornography business. This is a matter
of public record.
In addition, Lifeline continues to be dishonest in its advertising,
causing Laurie Ashford, Lifeline's National Sales Manager, to leave
the company. They don't give 10 percent of your bill to the ministry
of your choice; since June, in order to increase their profits, the
figure is 8.9 percent. Worse than that, they "give back" nothing
on bills below a certain amount, and their "give back" is
zero on credit card calls, overseas calls, and prepaid calls.
And, incidentally, don't expect Lifeline telemarketers to be honest
with you. They are still using the 10 percent figure in their sales
pitch, and saying that the executives who left to form Promise Vision
were fired. They weren't fired they resigned in protest.
I recommend the change, and documents are available for those who want
to see evidence. And, yes, we would be honored if you should choose
Words for Living as your designated ministry.
DO ALL RELIGIONS WORSHIP THE SAME GOD?
The growing popularity of religious pluralism (the idea that Christians,
Muslims, Buddhists, etc., all worship the same God, only giving Him
different names) has come into glaring focus since the terror war attacks
of 11 Sept. In light of a planned interfaith day of prayer, two prominent
evangelicals came into open conflict over the issue. E.V. Hill, popular
speaker at Promise Keepers events, made a statement to the Associated
Press supporting the idea that we all pray to the same God: "I
think people of all religions are coming to the point of (sic) there
is one God for which they have given different names to (sic)."
In the same AP report, Tim La Haye, co-author of the "Left Behind"
books, begged to differ: "You have to accept the fact that Jesus
is a central figure of all time and the only Son of God who died for
the sins of man and rose again." I agree with Tim; read John 14:6
and Acts 4:10-12.
TOLERANCE, INCLUSIVENESS AND THE NATIONAL
CATHEDRAL
There have been differences of opinion concerning the inclusion of a
Muslim and a Jewish rabbi, along with the Christian messages and prayers,
during the memorial service at the National Cathedral following the
disasters of 11 Sept. It may help to clarify the issue if we know that
the National Cathedral is not just a pretty building, a community center
where people meet to make appropriate remarks about national affairs.
It is a Christian cathedral, the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St.
Paul, consecrated to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is the See (official office) of the Bishop of the Dioscese of the
District of Columbia. Teddy Roosevelt laid the cornerstone in 1907.
What do you suppose Sts. Peter and Paul would say about having anti-Christians
preaching in the church dedicated to them (or any other church)? For
a sample, read Gal. 1:8,9 and Acts 4:8-12. What would Jesus say? For
a sample, read John 10:1-8.
OUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE
The U.S. Supreme Court, in the landmark case, Church of the Holy Trinity
v. the United States (1892), found that "no purpose of action against
religion can be imputed to any legislation, state or national, because
this is a religious people... This is a Christian nation." What
could be more clear?
IS ALLAH JUST ANOTHER NAME FOR OUR
GOD?
Ever since the disasters of 11 Sept., there has been a barrage of television
and radio programming to convince us that Islam is a peaceful religion,
that "Allah" is just another name for the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob that Christians, Jews and Muslims all worship
the same God. Wrong! Mohammed (or Muhammed, Mahomet, etc.), in the early
7th Century, considered the claims and teachings of Christ, rejected
them, and set about to found his own religion. Mohammed's great accomplishment
was to consider the large number of pagan gods the Arab people worshipped,
to choose his favorite (whose name is Allah), and to declare that all
the others (including the God of the Christians and Jews) are false.
Then he wrote his religious concepts into a book, the Koran (or Queran),
borrowing freely from our Old Testament, and distorting it. Islam relegates
Jesus of Nazareth to the status of a minor prophet, and recognizes Abraham,
but states that the promises came through Ishmael, not Isaac.
Allah, the god of Islam, is a harsh, unapproachable god, one to be feared,
not loved. In fact, for a Muslim (or Moslem spelling varies) to
say that he "loves Allah" is an unthinkable blasphemy, potentially
punishable by death. Their Heaven ("Paradise") is a place
where a man can have all the booze and women he wants, forever (one
wonders what there is in the deal to attract a woman to their heaven).
Women are merely property under the Koran, and in strict Muslim regimes
such as Afghanistan, the education of females is forbidden; girls as
young as eight have been publicly executed for going to school, secretly,
to learn to read and write. Even in "enlightened" Muslim countries
like Saudi Arabia, women cannot drive cars or go to market, thieves
still have their hands cut off, being caught with a Bible or even a
cross brings imprisonment, and to become a Christian can bring the death
penalty.
The Koran makes it clear that the ultimate goal of Islam is to rid the
world of all non-Muslims ("infidels"); those Christians, Jews
and others who refuse to convert to Islam are to be killed. Islam is,
inherently, a religion of violence and killing; of the 30 wars going
on worldwide today, 28 involve Muslims. "Jihad" is their "holy
war;" a Muslim man who dies in jihad (such as those who died in
the process of slaughtering 6,000 innocent Americans on 11 Sept.) are
taught that they go instantly to their heaven, where they will have
booze forever and a large number of virgins (who will remain "virgins"
no matter what is done to them sexually) to use as they choose. Expecting
a paradise based on the Playboy model, the sad truth is that they will
be horrified to find themselves, instead, in the Hell of the Bible.
And don't be dismayed when you see Islamic scholars and clerics assuring
us that Islam is really a peaceful, non-violent, tolerant religion;
such men are apologists doing public relations damage control.
No, Allah isn't just another name for our God, and Islam's holy book,
the Koran, requires the killing of all who will not convert to Mohamed's
Islam. If you would like a sampling of passages from the Koran, let
us know; they are too lengthy to include here.
MUSLIM ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS INCREASED
AFTER 11 SEPT.
One sad result of the 11 Sept., attacks has been a marked increase in
persecution of Christians by Muslims around the world. From Israel to
Afghanistan, Muslims rejoiced at the news of the murders of thousands
of innocent Americans, dancing in the streets, firing guns into the
air and buying t-shirts with the blazing World Trade Center on them.
But with their celebrating has come a resurgence of their hatred for
Christians, and an increase in the already-terrible levels of violent
persecution. Gary Lane, of Voice of the Martyrs, reports increases in
Muslim torture, rape, murder and enslavement of Christians in poor countries,
especially in places like Nigeria, Indonesia and Sudan, even as American
churches invite Muslim clerics into their pulpits to present Islam as
a religion of tolerance and peace. (ANS, et al)
QUOTABLE QUOTE
"False religious teachers are worse than murderers. They murder
the souls for whom Christ died." (Charles Finney)
CLINTON BLAMES THE U.S. AND CHRISTIANS
FOR TERROR ATTACKS
In the wake of the 11 Sept., slaughter of 6,000 innocent Americans,
Bill Clinton is saying it is our fault. In a 7 Nov., speech at Georgetown
University, he said that the U.S. and Christians are the cause of terrorism
around the world. He told 1,000 Georgetown students that our nation
has been practicing terrorism since its founding, and that Christians
have been doing it for "thousands of years." We have just
been reaping, he explained, what we ourselves have sowed. (WT/ANS)
CLINTON DISBARRED
Ex-president Bill Clinton, disbarred in Arkansas for perjuring himself
in lying to a grand jury in Washington, D.C., was suspended from the
bar of the U.S. Supreme Court on 1 Oct., with permanent disbarment scheduled
for 5 Nov. Faced with the disgrace of being disbarred, he resigned as
of 5 Nov., the day his permanent disbarment was to take effect.
THE AGENDA OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED
CROSS
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), parent organization
of the American Red Cross, is lavishly headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
It was founded in 1863 by humanitarians with the noble mission of providing
humanitarian aid to victims of war, and the promotion of humanitarian
principles and laws. From those lofty beginnings, it has grown, become
enormously wealthy, and has become an international pressure group with
agendas in direct conflict with individual liberties as guaranteed by
our Bill of Rights. For example, the ICRC promotes the global disarmament
of all citizens, the forced confiscation of all weapons and ammunition,
leaving them only in the hands of government. Of course, this is only
a part of the globalist dream of one government for the entire World.
Also, like any large bureaucracy, it is self-enriching and inefficient.
It admits spending nearly 25 percent of its income on its headquarters
operation in Geneva, more than it reports spending for eastern Europe,
central Asia, the Middle East, north Africa, and all of the Americas,
combined. And, in case you wonder, a large part of that money is provided
by the American citizen who gives to the American Red Cross; a percentage
of all that money goes directly to the ICRC. (Daniel Sargis, writing
in Ether Zone, et al)
THE RED CROSS DECEIVES DONORS
The American Red Cross has admitted using, for other purposes, much
of the money donated by compassionate Americans for the victims of the
terrorist attacks of 11 Sept., and their families. They were on television
and radio constantly, asking for money to help the attack victims; most
establishment television programs carried over-written appeals with
the Red Cross toll-free donation number, at the bottom of the screen.
After being exposed by a watchdog group, American Institute of Philanthropy,
they admit to having collected $550 million for the victims; and they
now admit that much of the money donated for the victims has been diverted
to other things, including new equipment and upgrading systems for their
own internal operations. But it can even be worse than that; read on...
MONEY FOR TERRORIST VICTIMS GIVEN TO
AID TERRORISTS
Some who gave to the United Way to help victims of the 11 Sept., terrorist
attacks would be shocked to learn what has been done with some of the
money they gave. The September 11th Fund, affiliated with United Way,
has given at least $170,000 to an organization called the Legal Aid
Society to provide legal counsel for eight people arrested as suspects
in the terrorist attacks. Donors were told that the money they contributed
would go to direct legal aid for poor people who worked at or near the
World Trade Center.
A GREAT QUOTE ABOUT 11 SEPT.
"America has received a wake-up call from Hell, and you can't hit
the snooze button." (Former Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu,
testifying before Congress)
BIG CHARITIES AND INEFFICIENCY
The very large charities are much like big government: large, bloated
bureaucracies with big headquarter operations which consume much of
the money donated to them money the donors think is going directly
to help needy people. Bill O'Reilly, writing in the New York Post, has
been watching the handling of the money raised for the 11 Sept., victims.
He has learned that by the end of October, the big charities (such as
Red Cross and United Way) had distributed less than 10 percent of the
$1.5 billion collected, and the money was still pouring in. So much
was pouring in, in fact, that much of it was being diverted to other
uses; read on....
DID YOU "TRICK-OR-TREAT FOR UNICEF?"
Founded after World War II as a United Nations (UN) program to help
needy children, UNICEF has become a globalist campaign in conflict with
American tradition and Christian values. Its policies tend to be anti-family
and unscriptural, yet many churches go on supporting it, and sending
their children out to "trick or treat for UNICEF." They probably
think they are raising money to feed hungry children overseas; they
probably don't know that they are raising money for such things as UN
"population control" (i.e., abortion, and sterilization of
women in the poorer countries of the World). (ANS/Amer. Life League)
CONSERVATIVE CHAPLAINS CHARGE PERSECUTION
A problem, growing for some time, has reached crisis. Amidst growing
commitment to political correctness in the armed services, there has
been a growing persecution of conservative, Bible-believing Christian
chaplains. They complain that they are routinely passed over for promotion,
and some say that they have been forbidden to preach Christ as the only
way to God. Now it is becoming official, as a growing group of conservative
chaplains has entered a class action lawsuit against the Navy Chaplain
Corps charging discrimination and repression. (ANS)
"SELECTIVE REDUCTION" MEANS
KILLING BABIES
In June my dear friends Heather and David Dewan were blessed with quadruplets
("Milestones," August/September issue), four beautiful babies.
When it was discovered that Heather was carrying four babies, she was
strongly pressured to accept "selective reduction." This is
simply a nice-sounding, clinical term for aborting some of the babies
to give the remaining baby a better chance to be born healthy. Heather,
a nurse, and David, are committed Christians; under great pressure from
all the medical experts, they refused to abort any. Look at the photo
(you can see it much better, in full color, on our web site, "Abortion");
then ask yourself this question: if these were your babies, which three
would you kill? Incidentally, Heather has asked her "selective
reduction" doctor that very question.
Clockwise, from top: Colin, Morgan, Kayla and Brianna.
If these four babies were yours, which three would you kill?
DO YOU FEEL INADEQUATE?
Most of us know what it is like to be faced with a daunting task and
feel completely inadequate to accomplish it. It is natural to feel this
way; but it shouldn't keep us from trying. Gideon felt this way (Judges
6:14); so did Jesus' friends when faced with multitudes to feed, with
almost nothing to give them (Matt 14:15-21, 15:32-39, et al). Remember
that His strength is made perfect (complete) in our weakness. Yes, Jesus
makes our inadequacies adequate.
MARTY’S CORNER
Many educators teach multiculturalism as if America had no culture of
its own. When students are never taught the substance of their American
heritage, they cannot build on that heritage. The terrorist attacks
on Sept. 11, 2001 started the pendulum swinging back to reality and
Americans are slowly climbing out of their foxholes to reclaim their
country. We are once again praying in public and saying the Pledge of
Allegiance even though it flies in the face of the radical left and
the ACLU because it mentions God. That Pledge says "one nation,
under God," not "multicultures, under many gods." We
are a melting pot, which incorporates the ideals of many people, hopefully
separating evil from virtue, and pours out a new product called America.
Multiculturalism is a relatively new term, but the concept of divide
and conquer is age old—the name changes but the process stays the
same. Marxists use it to separate and divide one against the other.
Hitler used it to separate races. Stalin used it to separate the rulers
from the masses and that’s exactly what each accomplished. The
goal in America was to seize power and then control the masses with
entertainment of violence, sex and politically correct "diversity,"
just as the Roman emperors did. The leadership of the 90’s left
the country devoid of purpose and so manipulated that they couldn’t
even put an "X" in the right place on a voting ballot by themselves.
For far too long, "social studies" taught subjectively about clothing styles and social customs has replaced history. History taught objectively about our Constitutional foundation, battles, inventions and great men who sacrificed everything to ensure a country of the people, by the people and for the people is our heritage. If America is truly to be the land of the free and the home of the brave, we can not grow weary and retreat to the deceptive safety of our foxholes again. …let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)
. A WORD FROM THE BOARD
This has been a particularly difficult and painful time for Tom. We
of the WFLM Board of Directors want to thank you, from our hearts, for
your prayers, encouragement and financial support. We really do need
each other.
Kevin Stevens, Vice-President
Baton Rouge, La.
AN ENCOURAGING THOUGHT ABOUT SOWING
SEED
Most of us, at one time or another, feel that the sharing and witnessing
we have done has been futile, without effect, ignored or disregarded
by the hearers. At times the hearers even react in anger at our attempts
to share the good news of Jesus and his redeeming love. But what we
don't know, in most cases, is what fruit is eventually borne from the
seeds we sow even when it seems that the seed is merely cast into
the wind and blown away with the dust. My daughter, Sally McKenney Mahoney,
writing from remote Honduras of fruit borne in that far-away jungle,
from seed sown here in the U.S., observed an encouraging thing
a fact of spiritual life. She wrote, "You never know where your
faith will go, and where its seeds will blow or what the Lord
will do with those seeds." So be encouraged; some of the greatest
successes of a witnessing Christian are those about which he never hears.
ARTHUR BLESSITT AND GEORGE W. BUSH
Arthur Blessitt is a street evangelest best known for his "cross
walks" in which he has carried a large cross on walks around the
world to call attention to the good news of Jesus. Guinness now recognizes
his walks as the world's longest walk. Recently he has disclosed the
fact that in April 1984 he shared the gospel privately with George W.
Bush during a crusade in Midland, Tex., and led G.W. to personal faith
in Christ. In his appointment calendar for 3 Apr. 1984 he wrote, "Midland,
Texas, 2 Meetings. A good and powerful day... Led Vice-President Bush's
son to Jesus today. George Bush, Jr! This is great. Glory to God. But
I won't speak about it."
And Arthur hasn't spoken about it until now, for he thought it better to let G.W. give his own testimony; but now that the President is public about his faith, Arthur has decided to reveal the event of 1984. You can read about it on his web site at www.blessitt.com/bush.html.
"HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF!"
When Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, with Peter,
James and John, He found his other disciples engaged in an unsuccessful
attempt to cast an evil spirit out of a boy (Mark 9:14-29). To make
the situation worse, they were surrounded by a large crowd, including
their religious enemies, the scribes all legalistic scholars.
When Jesus arrived, the spirit threw the boy to the ground in a convulsive
seizure, and Jesus learned from the boy's father that he had been thus
tormented most of his life. The heartbroken father, with pleading eyes,
said to Jesus, "If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us
and help us." Jesus replied with a challenge, "If thou canst
believe, all things are possible...." The heartbroken father cried
out in response, in honest, ageless words, "Lord, I believe; help
thou mine unbelief!" Notice that when the man asked Jesus to help
("If thou canst...,") that Jesus, to make a point, answered
the man with his own words ("If thou canst...."). Then, seeing
the father's sincerity, and his limits, Jesus graciously drove the evil
spirit from the boy and set him free. This is the way Jesus always deals
with us: all He wants of us is our best (which is usually pitifully
inadequate), and our sincerity; and then He graciously does the rest.
A LIFE TO EMULATE: JOHN WESLEY
In this time of wickedness and deepening corruption in our culture,
it is healthy to think on those who do manage to lead exemplary, godly
lives. Such a person was John Wesley, Anglican priest and leader of
the great Weslyan "Methodist" revival of the 18th Century.
In his lifetime he rode 175,000 miles on horseback to preach 40,000
sermons in 15 languages. In failing health at the end of his life, Wesley
complained that his doctor would only allow him to preach 14 times weekly.
He wrote in his journal, "I fear laziness is creeping in on me
there is a growing desire to sleep in until 5:30 a.m." (AFRN)
MILESTONES
Died 18 Oct. Jake Thomas, World War II combat Marine corpsman and committed
Christian patriot, in Santa Ana, Calif., after a long, disabling illness.
28 Oct. Rev. Wilbur Webb, long-time pastor friend and warrior for truth,
in Pearl, Miss.
FINAL WORD
Treasure and use each day as if it were your last, and never give up
hope; God has a limitless supply of new beginnings, and he makes beautiful
things out of broken pieces.
You are precious,
(Sources: AFAJ-American Family Journal; AFRN-American Family Radio News; AP-Associated Press; BP-Break Point; C-Charisma; CBN-Christian Broadcasting Network; CO-Charlotte Observer; CR-Congressional Record; DR-Drudge Report; EP-Evangelical Press; Fox (Fox News); FRC-Family Research Council; GN-Good News Magazine; HC-History Channel; IFA-Intercessors for America; IMG-Israel My Glory Magazine; Ins-Insight Magazine; LAT-L.A. Times; Mil-Military Magazine; NR-National Review; NW-Newsweek; NYP-New York Post; NYT-New York Times; PHN-Paul Harvey News; PWB-Pastors' Weekly Briefing; RT-Religion Today; RTLB-Right to Life Education Foundation Bulletin; USAT-USA Today; USNWR-U.S. News & World Report; VOM-Voice of Martyrs; W-World Magazine; WND-World Net Daily; WT-Washington Times); WW - Washington Watch.