December 2003 / January 2004
Dear ones,
These are difficult times for ministries such as this, and for many
in the work force. I am over-whelmed with gratitude for those of you
who sent financial support and words of encouragement since the last
issue. We really do need each other.
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING
Our granddaughter, Katie Jarvis (our Susan's eldest), suffered a severe
head injury on 4 Nov., and was medevacked to Tulane University Hospital
in New Orleans where there is a team of pediatric neuro-surgeons. She
remained unconscious for nearly two weeks, but God gave us precious
signs of improvement almost daily. She has now been transferred to a
rehab center in Gulfport and is making miraculous pro-gress. By the
grace of God, we expect Katie to make a full recovery. So, our thanks
to all of you who have been praying for Katie; and now you will understand
why this issue is a little late in going out.
RICHES FOUND IN THE NAMES OF GOD, PART
II
In the last issue we began a series on the names of God, each of which
reveals some characteristic of His nature. There are many such names
by which God reveals Himself; but what we are considering in this series
are the three basic names. Remember that the key to recognizing these
three names is capitaliza-tion. Remember also that many of the modern
versions of the Bible do not differentiate these three names, losing
their individual meanings for the reader; I recommend that you use the
King James Version (or the New King James Version).
Last issue we saw that when "God" appears (as in Gen. 1:1),
the Hebrew word is Elohim, meaning the strong and faithful one who keeps
covenants.
The second of God's three basic names is "Lord." When "Lored"
appears with the letter "L" capi-talized, the Hebrew word
is "Adonai," and it means "Master," in every sense
of the word. Adonai denotes the relationship between a slave and his
owner; the master requires complete obedience of the slave, but he also
has total responsibility to provide for the slave. In Gen. 15:2, Abraham
is complaining to Adonai, say-ing, in effect, "Lord, you are supposed
to provide for me in every way, yet I am old and you have given me no
children. What's wrong here?" One very significant place where
this name of God appears is in Ps. 110:1, where David refers to the
coming Messiah as his Lord ("my Adonai"). It was this verse
that Jesus later used to confound the Pharisees, showing them that the
Christ would be divine - not a merely human conqueror, or political
leader, as they believed and taught (Matt. 22:41-46). In Ps. 110:1,
the Bible makes it clear that, although the Messiah would be the Son
of David (David's human ancestor), He would be David's Lord, superior
in every way.
In the next issue, we will deal with the third, and most important,
name of God.
MEA CULPA
In the last issue, I included a small article ("FREEDOM ISN'T FREE:
THE JAPS AND THEIR WORLD WAR II POWS"). It had never once occurred
to me that "Jap" or "Japs" could be considered de-rogatory
terms. Never! But, I was wrong. A friend in Clarksville, Tennessee cared
enough to call me in my office one night to tell me I had done wrong.
He was hurt-not offended, but hurt by my use of the terms. At first,
I couldn't understand his reaction; I thought it was political correctness
carried to a ridiculous ex-treme. I was wrong. He explained to me that
his father is a retired soldier, his mother is Japanese, and that, as
a result, he has been subjected to painful verbal abuse, and rejection
by other children, as he grew up, being called a "Jap" (and,
I am sure, with various unpleasant adjectives). He experienced this,
even in an Army environment. I then thought of dear friends of my own,
Marine and Army, who have Japanese wives, and children like my young
friend who called; and then I hurt. At age 73, I have learned a new
lesson.
HELP US FIND THE ANONYMOUS DONOR
On 11 Oct., we received in the mail a cash gift of $21 with no return
address. The envelope was one of our return envelopes, enclosed in the
October/November Good Word, and it bears a Saint Louis postmark of 9
Oct., 2003. This makes me very sad, because I cannot thank the giver,
nor issue a receipt. If you sent this, or know who did, please let us
know.
WHAT WOULD GEORGE WASHINGTON SAY?
Lt. Gen. William Boykin is under heavy attack from the politically correct
left for comments he made in an address to a church. The general, a
veteran of special operations in Iran and Somalia, said that when he
was fighting Muslim terrorists in Somalia, he took comfort in knowing
that he served the true God, while the Muslim terrorists worshipped
a false god. Nina Totenberg, National Public Radio diva, falsely quoted
him as calling the war on terrorism, "a Christian crusade against
Islam" (something he has never said), and then remarked,"
I hope he is not long for this world!" When a co-panelist questioned
her apparent death wish, she added, "In his job…"
But what would George Washington say about all this? I think I know;
and I can tell you what he did say, in his official General Order to
the Army, announcing the adoption of the Declaration of Independ-ence
on 4 July, 1776. In his official capacity (not in an address to his
church), he wrote: "The general hopes and trusts that every officer
and man will endeavor so to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier,
de-fending the dearest rights and liberties of his country (emphasis
mine)." Be assured that Gen. Washington would be attacked by the
ant-Christian left as viciously as is Gen. Boykin, were he living today.
(ANS,PWB)
MORE POSITIVE EVIDENCE ON HOME-SCHOOLING
One of the most common (and false) criticisms of home schooling is that
home-schooled children are "under socialized" (aren't comfortable
with, or good at, relating to children and adults outside their homes).
They are often (falsely) characterized as being socially handicapped,
psychologically crippled. The truth is just the opposite. A recent comprehensive
study that tracked such children through college and into independent
adulthood found that the home-schooled adults actually excel in this
way, performing signifi-cantly better than the products of public schools.
75 percent of those educated at home have gone on to college education
(as opposed to only 46 percent of public school graduates). They have
a significantly higher rate of voting, activity in local communities,
and informed political activity, and are more engaged in community affairs
and projects. I can tell you that my experience has been that home-schooled
children are more comfortable and competent at meeting and interacting
with strangers (other kids and adults) than the general population.
The ones I have known clearly excel in social skills. (ANS/PWB)
MASS. SUPREME COURT APPROVES "GAY"
MARRIAGE
In November the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled (4-3) in favor of
seven homosexual couples, who had sued after being denied marriage licenses.
Their ruling opens the door to homosexual marriage in the Commonwealth;
the ruling gives the Massachusetts legislature 180 days to amend state
law ("take ac-tion…appropriate in light of this decision").
This could eventually mean legalizing "gay" marriage in all
50 states. To get involved in the effort to achieve a federal marriage
amendment to the U.S. Constitution, go to the web site www.NoGayMarriage.com
(or go to our web site and click on the "Gay" Agenda button
for a link to NoGayMarriage.com). (ANS)
"LAW & ORDER" - MORE PROPAGANDA
NBC's long-running TV drama, "Law & Order" has been one
of the least objectionable of net-work TV programs. No longer. In the
week of 13 Nov., the episode was pure anti-family, anti-Bible, pro-homosexual
propaganda. It dealt with a therapist who counseled homosexuals, helping
them to leave their destructive lifestyle. The other characters maligned
the counselor, calling him "Dr. Homophobe," and writ-ers took
every opportunity to discredit such therapy, even having the counselor
murder his son's homosex-ual lover.
Do you still watch network TV? I don't - except for ball games, and
even then, some of the commercials are sick.
BUT THE TRUTH IS QUITE DIFFERENT
While the establishment media pour forth the pro-sodomy propaganda,
they ignore the findings of a secular psychiatrist. Dr. Robert Spitzer,
Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University reports that he has studied
200 formerly homosexual men who are now heterosexual; all had been out
of the homosexual life for at least five years. All felt that the change
was for the better; many had married. He reported that all were highly
motivated about their new lives, and that most were "deeply religious."
(ANS)
OPPOSITION TO "GAY" MARRIAGE
IS GROWING
A recent Pew Research poll found that most Americans consider homosexual
behavior to be sin-ful. Also, the opposition to homosexual marriage
is growing, in spite of the flood of pro-homosexual propaganda from
the media. Approximately 60 percent of Americans now oppose such marriage,
up from 53 percent in mid-July. (ANS)
RU-486 KILLS AGAIN
The abortion pill, RU-486, rushed through the approval process by the
Food and Drug Administra-tion, has killed again. Holly Marie Patterson,
age 18, was was weeks pregnant when she visited a Planned Parenthood
clinic in Haywood, Calif. (near San Francisco) in September. She was
given the pills and sent home to do the rest on her own. A day after
she began taking the RU-486 she suffered severe cramping; for three
more days she suffered severe pain and bleeding. She was admitted to
a hospital, and died a few hours later. Attending physicians said she
died of septic shock resulting from fragments of her baby that were
still in her uterus. Rushing to initiate damage control, Planned Parenthood
of Haywood issued a statement say-ing the cause of Holly's death is
"unknown." They, of course, lied, in spite of the findings
of the physicians who treated her. (W)
HOMOSEXUALS AND TOLERANCE
In September, an Ohio pastor, Paul Andrei, preached a sermon in which
he quoted the Bible's clear injunctions (Romans 1, et al) concerning
the sin of sodomy; and he said that the Episcopal Church's first openly
homosexual bishop "teaches a false gospel." As a result, four
homosexual men, looking for the pastor, found instead a volunteer taking
the trash out of the church. They beat him savagely, leaving him on
the ground, cut and bruised over much of his body. And, as they left,
they shouted, "That's for Pastor Paul!" So much for their
self-proclaimed "tolerance." (ANS)
STARVE A WOMAN - OK; STARVE A DOG -
GO TO JAIL
The Florida Legislature and Gov. Jeb Bush intervened to save comatose
Terri Schiavo, 39, from being killed by thirst (a court order had approved
her husband's request to withhold food and water in order to kill her).
But Terri's husband has obtained another court order to have her killed.
He calls it "humane" to thus kill her (I would like to see
him, chained to a bed, withhold food and water, and see how long he
con-siders it "humane"). One thing about it that is completely
untrue is that she won't die of starvation-she will die of thirst, one
of the very most horrible deaths. One can live for weeks, or months,
without food; one can live for only about eight days without water (depending
on temperature, activity, etc).
Now, police are guarding the hospital room where Terri is dying. Pro-life
activist Janet Folger asked one of the policemen: "If, as a demonstration
against what is being done to this woman, I went home and starved my
dog to death, would you arrest me?" The policeman answered, "Yes."
Terri's parents have fought to save her. Her husband, incidentally,
will benefit financially from her death. (ANS/PWB)
AUSTRALIAN PASTORS JAILED FOR SPEAKING
TRUTH
More and more, the secular establishment attacks Christianity and promotes
Islam. In a case that should give us pause, two Christian pastors in
Australia have been arrested for teaching the truth about the differences
in Christianity and Islam. All their material about the nature of Islam
was taken directly from the Koran. They now face six months in prison
and unlimited fines, and will not be allowed to present in their own
defense the fact that their statements are true. (ANS)
PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BAN AT LAST
At long last, the ban on the barbaric murder of babies, called partial
birth abortion, has been pro-hibited by a federal law (you may remember
that Congress twice passed such a law previously, but Bill Clinton vetoed
it both times). However, Pres. Bush had no sooner signed the bill into
law than challenges were filed against it in federal courts. So, although
we can rejoice that this has finally become law, it will probably have
to be tested all the way to the Supreme Court; meanwhile, thousands
of helpless babies will be brutally murdered by having scissors stabbed
into their skulls and their brains sucked out. (ANS)
NEW BABY PICTURES
Dr. Stuart Campbell, a London physician and professor of obstetrics,
is developing revolutionary new scanning techniques for seeing babies
in the womb; they are far better than current ultrasound proce-dures.
Called "4-D scanning," the babies can be seen much more clearly,
in much greater detail, smiling, crying, blinking, yawning, and sucking
their fingers. Babies have now been seen moving their arms and legs
at only 8 weeks, before many women realize that they are pregnant. Although
the new imaging was developed to diagnose prenatal health problems,
it is becoming a powerful new weapon in the fight for life, proving
that they are tiny people in there-not "blobs of tissue."
(PWB)
A WORD FROM THE BOARD
"WOW! With grateful hearts we thank you for the great response
after sharing the need of the financial crunch of WFLM. We will continue
to insert a return envelope in the newsletter for your conven-ience.
JB Kuykendall,
Marion, Ill.
A DEADLY TREND ON THE SUPREME COURT
Since the Warren Court of the 1950s, the Supreme Court has drifted from
its constitutional duty to interpret laws based on the Constitution
and American legal precedent, into a process of creating law, based
on sociology and other extra-legal authorities. In Roe v. Wade, which
legalized abortion on demand, for the first time, the court cited not
a single legal precedent, but created a perceived "right to privacy."
Today, an even more frightening trend is emerging. Liberal justices
are now beginning to say that our laws should be evaluated, not on the
basis of interpretation of the Constitution, but in light of the laws
in European nations, the European Union, and the UN Charter.
What this means, is effectively discarding our unique Constitution;
and it would ultimately mean the abandonment of our national sovereignty
under World government with World laws. (ANS/PWB)
CONSERVATIVES, LIBERALS AND GENEROSITY
The Massachusetts Catalogue for Philanthropy publishes an annual report
on charitable giving across the nation. This year's report is interesting.
The state with the most giving per capita was Missis-sippi, one of the
poorest states in the Union. According to the report, the 20 states
with the most generous people all voted for George W. Bush in the 2000
election, while 15 of the 20 least generous states voted for Al Gore.
One way to interpret these facts is that conservatives are more generous
with their money, while liberals are more generous with other people's
money. This is a point definitely worth pondering. (ANS)
NEW PRESIDENT AT PROMISE KEEPERS
Bill McCartney, former head football coach at the Univ. of Colorado
and founder of Promise Keepers, is stepping down as Promise Keepers
President and CEO, to devote full time to caring for his wife, who has
a severe respiratory illness. McCartney will be replaced by Thomas Fortson,
former General Motors executive. (PWB)
CHRISTIAN SINGER STANDS UP FOR HIS FAITH
At the recent American Music Awards ceremony (a Dick Clark production),
Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman was honored as contemporary
inspirational artist of the year. Before the show, which was broadcast
live, master of ceremonies, comedian Jimmy Kimmel, told Chapman specifically
not to thank God when he received the award. Chapman, however, when
the award was presented, said, "Fi-nally, Jimmy, I'm sorry, but
thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!" (ANS)
AN AMAZING WOMAN OF GOD
Adele Boatwright Carmichael died recently at age 101. An evangelist's
daughter, and a pastor's widow, she was an ordained minister in the
Assemblies of God for 85 years, and was teaching Bible studies almost
until her death. She was a pioneer in Christian radio, beginning to
teach and preach on midwestern radio stations in 1922. She was Dean
of Women at Evangel College, and lived independently until her death.
Adele was active until her death, walking twice daily, baking, sewing
and decorating her home with her own paintings and hand-carved dolls.
She has said that she resisted God's calling her to ministry, say-ing
it is a man's job; but God persisted, and she submitted, with remarkable
results. Like St. Paul, she was "not disobedient unto the heavenly
vision." (ANS)
A POINT TO PONDER
Kids didn't hang themselves or blow their brains out (or anyoneelse's),
listening to the music of Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman
or any of the other superstars of music in the '30s, '40s and '50s.
Nor did they after listening to "Jack Armstrong," "Let's
Pretend," Jack Benny or Fred Allen on radio, or watching "Leave
it to Beaver," "Amos and Andy," "Beverly Hillbillies"
or the "Andy Griffith Show" on TV.
OUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE
"The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected
in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the
principles of Christianity." (John Adams)
MARTY'S CORNER
Understanding that at times we all read or hear a statement that immediately
sets our mental wheels turning, the following are for you to ponder.
"For the first time in the history of the world, a deadly communicable
disease (AIDS) is being fought without the use of quarantine, man's
most effective tool to date, and the battle is being lost, despite extensive
programs to inform the public." (columnist Richard Corbell) It's
being lost to self-indulgent, dis-torters of truth. Professing to be
wise, they became fools. Romans 1: 22
"Why the liberal obtuseness when it comes to understanding the
role religion plays in American history and among Americans in general?"
was asked of Ann Coulter (author of Treason). Her response: They aren't
obtuse, they understand religion just fine. They just don't like it.
It's not a failure of compre-hension. Liberals hate the idea of God
because it competes with their conception of themselves as a spe-cially
anointed elite.
Jim Elliot was asked why he was going to Ecuador when "perhaps
his ministry might not be more effective in the United States, where
so many know so little of the Bible's real message." He replied,
"I dare not stay home while Quichuas perish. What if the well-filled
church in the homeland needs stirring? They have the Scriptures, Moses
and the prophets, and a whole lot more. Their condemnation is written
on their bank books and in the dust on their Bible covers." He
and four other missionaries were killed by the Aucas in 1956, but their
lives, their stories and their deaths have led thousands (including
Aucas) to the Lord.
IS EVERYONE A CHILD OF GOD?
One of the erroneous doctrines of occultists, liberal theologians, New
Agers and Freemasonry, is the "Universal brotherhood of man, under
the fatherhood of God." It is patently unscriptural and, among
other problems, makes the atoning death of Jesus meaningless, unnecessary...
a bad joke. I have written on this topic before, I know, but let me
point you to a single verse not previously cited, which by itself demol-ishes
this false doctrine. In John 11, Caiphas, as High Priest, made a policy
decision that Jesus must die; in so doing. he (validly) prophesied that
one of the beneficial results of Jesus' death would be the gathering
together of "the children of God that were scattered abroad"
(v 52). If all are/were children of God, it would be impossible for
the children of God to be a scattered minority, dispersed among the
rest of mankind. One cannot gather a few red cows from among a herd
of black ones, if all cows are red.
WE ARE LIVING LONGER
In 1900, the average life expectancy for Americans was 47.3 years. By
1950, life expectancy had progressed to 68.2 years. In 2001, it was
77.2 years. Women still outlive men by an average of more than five
years. (PWB)
TEEN SEX, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDE
A study of 6,500 youth, ages 14-17, recently released by the Heritage
Foundation, found that more than 25 percent of sexually active girls
are significantly depressed (a lot, or most, of the time), compared
with girls who are not sexually active at 7.7 percent. The figures for
sexually active boys are lower, but they are still nearly three times
as likely to be significantly depressed, compared with those who are
not. Interestingly, the sexually active boys were nine times more likely
to have attempted suicide, as opposed to the girls, who were three times
more likely than are those not sexually active. Also, a majority of
sexually active teens, both boys and girls, expressed regret at what
they had done. (ANS)
GUNS DON'T KILL - PEOPLE DO
Since 1934, only one legally owned machine gun has been used in a murder-and
that one was committed by a police officer. (Hist. Channel)
THE THOS. JEFFERSON SLANDER GOES ON
For several years now, the elitist left has tried to slander Thomas
Jefferson, claiming that he was the father of a son, borne by his slave,
Sally Hemmings. Why do they do such things? I believe that it is a manifestation
of their hatred for the republican principles and Christian faith of
the founding fathers, and seek every opportunity to make them look bad.
They are particularly offended with Jefferson's belief in the common
man (the "natural aristocracy"), and the danger of big government
("That government is best, which governs least."). In June
2002, the New York Times published a story saying that DNA evidence
found "a perfect match between Jefferson and Hemmings' youngest
son." This was simply a false state-ment. Eugene Foster, one of
the primary researchers in the referenced DNA studies, says that DNA
evi-dence alone (excluding historical evidence) shows that the father
could have been any one of 25 male Jef-fersons who lived in Virginia
at the time. The most likely culprit is Jeffeerson's profligate younger
brother. (NewsMax.com, et al)
MILESTONES
Born 1 Oct. Rebecca Olivia Walter at 8 Lbs. 10 oz., to Mike and Cathy
(Crocket) Walter, Bradford, Tenn.
Died 29 Aug. Louise Biggs, longtime Christian friend, in Marion, Ky.
19 Sept. Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin, 86, prominent evangelist and Bible teacher,
writer, and founder of the Rhema School of Biblical Studies, a publishing
house, radio and TV ministries, and the Rhema Ministerial Association.
23 Sept. Floyd Hooks, husband of pro-family activist Vandalyn Hooks,
Fairfield Glade, Tenn.
16 Oct. Thelma ("Nanny") Thomas, mother of longtime Christian
friend Jerry Thomas, in Union City, Tenn.
18 Nov. Rev. Bertist Rouse, pastor, evangelist and founder of International
Gospel Out-reach in Mobile, Ala., which sponsors missionaries, both
foreign and domestic. He was as pure a Christian leader as I have ever
known in terms of selflessness, Bertist took me on my first foreign
mission trip, and has been an example and mentor to me for many years.
Bob Gresham, architect and longtime Christian friend, a courageous "doer
of the Word," of a rare and rapidly aggressive neurological disease,
in Paducah, Ky.
A FINAL WORD
Treasure and use each day as if it were your last, and never give up
hope; God has a limitless sup-ply 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;
ANS-Agape News Ser-vice; AP-Associated Press; BP-Break Point; C-Charisma;
CBN-Christian Broadcasting Network; CR-Congressional Record; DR-Drudge
Report; EP-Evangelical Press; Fox (Fox News); FRC-Family Research Council;
GN-Good News Magazine; HC-History Channel; Ins-Insight Magazine; LAT-L.A.
Times; Mil-Military Magazine; NR-National Review; NW-Newsweek; NYP-New
York Post; NYT-New York Times; PWB-Pastors' Weekly Briefing; RTLB-Right
to Life Education Foundation Bulletin; USAT-USA Today; USNWR-U.S. News
and World Report; VOM-Voice of Martyrs; W-World Magazine; WND-World
Net Daily; WT-Washington Times; WW-Washington Watch.)