February/March 2005

Dear ones,
Marty and I want to thank you for the Christmas cards. Long ago we had to stop sending them, for there were just too many, and there was no way to be sure that we didn't leave someone out; but we read and share them, and thank God for the love they express. You all really are precious. Now, there is much to share.

OUR UNIQUE GOD AND PROPHECY
Our God is unique-He alone is the YHWH, "the self-existent One," whose existence depends on no other person or thing. He is the one and only true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He alone describes Himself as "I am"-the One who lives outside of time and space. In spite of this, man has, almost from his beginnings, wanted to create his own false gods, those more in keeping with his own lustful, selfish nature. It bewilders me to think that people can actually create something with their own hands, at their own expense, and then not only take it seriously, but fall down and worship it! Nevertheless, this is the record, from the Garden of Eden until today.

In Isaiah's time, God found it necessary, for the umpteenth time, to remind sinful Israel that He is the only true God (Isaiah 46:1-11). In the course of His message, God reminded His people that, "...I am God and there is none else; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done...."

In this statement of God about Himself, there is an interesting and significant fact; and it is a fact of which, sad to relate, most Christians are not aware. This significant fact is that of all the so-called "holy books" of the World's religions (the Koran, the Hindu Vedas, the Book of Mormon, the various writings of Buddhism, etc), the Bible alone contains prophecy. Why? Because our YHWH alone knows the end from the beginning. Think on this.

SON OF HOPE - A NEW CREATURE
30 years ago a serial killer was terrorizing New York City; he called himself "Son of Sam." His real name was David Berkowitz, and he was a worshipper of Satan; "Sam" was an evil spirit which guided and manipulated him. He was caught, convicted and, in 1978, was sentenced to 365 years in prison. After 11 years in prison, after counseling, therapy and psychiatric treatment, he was changed only in that he was even more filled with hate, cruelty and hopelessness. But then a Christian inmate began to witness to him; he was given a Gideons New Testament with Psalms, and his Christian friend urged him to read Psalms. Reading the Psalms convinced Berkowitz that there might be hope for him-even him, with all the evil he had committed. While reading Psalm 34 one night, he began to pray; he cried out to Jesus to forgive him. He did forgive him, and the miracle of the New Birth took place. Now David Berkowitz, still serving his 365 year sentence, is in full-time Christian ministry; he has been assigned to the "Special Needs Unit" in prison, where he shares the good news of hope and new life in Christ with inmates who have the greatest emotional problems. He writes letters, sharing the same hope with multitudes in and out of prisons. The Son of Sam now calls himself The Son of Hope, and urges all who are separated from God by sin to trust Jesus, and to do it now; he says, "Tomorrow is promised to no one. Do not wait for your death bed, for you may not have one. 'Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.' I beg you to place your faith in Christ right now."

THE MURDER OF MATTHEW SHEPARD NO "HATE CRIME"
In case you are still wondering, the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard was definitely not a "hate crime." Because Shepard was a homosexual, the "gay" activists immediately took up the cry, and used the murder as an emotional battering ram to get "hate crimes" laws enacted. They were quite successful. Now, however, the killers themselves have told the world, on the TV program "20/20" that it was just about drugs. The killers saw Shepard in a bar, he was well-dressed and appeared to have money, so they beat him and robbed him. Because one of the robbers was in a drug-deprived rage, he beat Shepard so severely that he died. It had nothing to do with the victim's being homosexual (except that it was the reason Shepard was willing to get in the truck and leave with two strangers); it was just a couple of thugs who were desperate for money to buy drugs. (20/20, BP, ANS et al)

MISSISSIPPI-POOR BUT GENEROUS
According to the Catalogue for Philanthropy's Generosity Index for the year 2004, Mississippi, the nation's poorest state in terms of average household income, ranks Number 1 in generosity (giving to church and charities). It finds that those in the richest states, such as Connecticut and Massachusetts, give the least. (PWB)

THE POOR, GENEROSITY, AND "THE SEASON"
One must wonder why people in a poor state like Mississippi (and other such states in the South) are more generous with their money than are those in the richer states, such as Connecticut and Massachusetts. I suggest that the reason, once again, is the Bible, and their Christian beliefs (or lack thereof). Across the South, the Church tends to be the dominant cultural influence, with extended revival meetings normally held in the Summer, in addition to 3 normal services a week. This is not so in the industrial North, especially in the Northeast. Of course, I am generalizing here, but have no choice, given the question. Perhaps illustrative in some way is what people in New England often call "The Season." In the South, that could only refer to hunting, football or some other sport; but in New England it often means church. Church? Yep-that's right. In some of the traditional denominations, "the season" is September through May; churches close down in the Summer, because no one comes.

SUPREME COURT AND THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
As the Supreme Court considers the insane issue of removing the 10 Commandments from all schools, courthouses and other government buildings, it is useful to remember something. As you look at the Supreme Court Building itself, in all its classical, Greek-revival beauty, there is at the top, carved in stone, a graphic representation of the sources of human law. All the figures on the left and right sides of the sculpture are looking inward toward the large figure in the center; all stony eyes are on that dominant person, symbolizing that he is the primary source of all law. Who is that largest of the stone men, the one in the center to whom all the others look, acknowledging his primacy? It is Moses, the man of God, and he is holding the two stone tablets containing the 10 Commandments, the wellspring of all valid law, and the foundation document of Western Civilization.

Inside the building, as you enter the Supreme Courtroom, the two huge oak doors have the 10 Commandments carved into the lower portion of each door.

Then, as you sit in the Supreme Courtroom, you will see on the wall, above the chairs where the justices sit, the 10 Commandments.

What is it, one wonders, that they don't understand?

SURPRISE: WE WON THE VIETNAM WAR
One of the best-kept secrets of the Vietnam War is that we won. We really did. I was there at its bloodiest, and by the time I left, we almost couldn't pick a fight. The once-mighty NVA were reduced to raids on orphanages. What happened was that we Americans left too soon, and then the politicians, led by Communist-friendly Senator McGovern, cut off all aid to South Vietnam. All that North Vietnam had to do was to rearm with Soviet bloc help, re-organize, and, by 1975 they invaded again; the South, by then abandoned by us, toppled. But we didn't lose; with one hand tied by absurd Rules of Engagement, we won it-never lost a major battle. The politicians then gave it away. Well, that's another story; but in this connection, please read on.

AN UNSUNG VICTORY IN THE VIETNAM WAR
Allow me to tell of one great victory our fighting men won in Vietnam-one about which you will never hear from the establishment media. One thing our warriors accomplished during our 12-year presence in Vietnam was to make it possible for Christian missionaries to function there with freedom and relative safety. We gave them precious years in which to minister to the poor Vietnamese, particularly in the mountains, with medical care, dental care and the Good News of Jesus. One of the missionaries wrote to the widow of a pilot who had been killed in action in his area: "Your husband and others like him had a part in the conversion of 2,000 nationals who have been baptized in this past year." The GIs, when not engaged in combat, did much to assist the missionaries, with transportation, medical and dental supplies, and food-in fact, anything they could do to help. A Benedictine chaplain who was "handy" flew in periodically to do maintenance work. Missionary nurse Dawn Deets, of Dixon, Illinois, spent 15 years in Vietnam, with many of those years devoted to lepers near the Cambodian border. There was danger all that time, but beginning in 1962 when the first American soldiers came, everything changed for the better; when the soldiers began leaving in 1969 their work became progressively harder. By 1973 when the last American combat units left, everything changed for the worse; and by 1975 it was over.

Missionary nurse Betty Mitchell is a living example. In 1962 her husband was captured by the Communists, and she was left there with her 4 children; they never saw him again. Twelve years of relative freedom to operate followed; then the Americans were gone. Betty was herself captured in 1975 and spent 9 months in cruel captivity before finally being released. Today, remembering her service in Vietnam, she says, "I'm glad the GIs were there. They helped so much, and they made it possible for us to share God's love with the [Vietnamese] people for an additional 12 years."

In 1995 Dawn Deets returned to Vietnam, this time as a tourist. The Pleiku leprosy center they had built and operated with the help of American GIs was gone-destroyed by the Communists-as if it had never been there. But the work they did there in the lives of the Montagnard people, made possible by those GIs, cannot be stamped out.

You can read this inspiring story in its entirety in the Jan '05 issue of "Military" magazine, a fine publication, for which I am proud to be an occasional contributing writer. Although a secular publication, there is not a drop of political correctness in the group, and they take "God and Country" seriously-very seriously. (Mil)

HOME SCHOOLING CONTINUES TO SUCCEED
According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than a million children were home-schooled in 2003, an increase by nearly 1/3 since 1999. And as numbers of children educated at home grow, these children continue to excel in performance testing and competition. Home school parents consistently give 3 primary reasons for educating their children at home: (1) the unhealthy, ungodly and violent environment in public schools; (2) the freedom to teach religious and moral lessons at home; and (3) the continuing failure of government schools to provide adequate academic education.

Incidentally, one common condemnation of home schooling is that such children will not be adequately "socialized"-that is, they won't know how to fit in to the larger society outside the home. Experience has proved the very opposite to be true; home-educated children tend to be much better able to function socially with strangers of all ages than those educated in public schools. (ANS, U.S. Department of Education, et al)

A DANGEROUS SCAM FROM AFRICA
If you have a computer and receive e-mail, you may be getting an appealing, authentic-seeming message to the effect that you are inheriting a lot of money. All such messages that I have received have come from African countries. I now get one or two such messages a week, and can spot them before opening them; but the first one had me going at first. They are cleverly written, and can sound authentic. I guess they heard of me on the internet, and their approach to me sounded like it had been written by the apostle Paul-very Christian. They said I had been chosen to use the money ($millions) to further the cause of Christ, etc.

The stories vary, but they all will tell you that some wealthy person has died and left a very large sum of money in trust for some good work, and that you have been chosen to receive some or all of it. BEWARE: if you respond, then sooner or later they will tell you that everything is arranged, and all you must do is to send them your bank account number so the funds can be transferred to your bank account. Here is where it gets ugly: instead of transferring money to your account, they will empty your account, and when you discover the loss they will be in Africa where our laws don't have force. You will have been had. So, beware. There are wolves out there in sheep's clothing, and they are very busy.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A FAMILY'S EATING TOGETHER
If you wish for your children to grow up healthy and free of the destructive forces that surround them (and surely you do), one of the most important things you can do is to have your family sit down together at mealtimes and eat. With so many things going on, this can be a difficult thing to bring to pass. What is often the easiest practice is for individuals to eat at different times, usually sitting in front of a TV set; but this is a recipe for disaster. According to a University of Minnesota study, published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, "Frequency of family meals was inversely associated" with use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana, with poor academic performance, depression, and suicide. "We found family mealtimes to be a protective factor in the lives of adolescents in nearly all [such] variables," wrote the authors, "particularly adolescent girls." Simply put, the more often a family eats together, the healthier, safer, and more successful the children will be; the less often a family sits down and eats together, the more likely the children will be to fail in school, be depressed, and do destructive things. (PWB)

THE ILLEGAL ALIEN QUESTION-STILL
The Democrat Party, and political liberals in general, continue to push for acceptance of the flood of illegal aliens into this country; more self-destructive and irrational still, many of them, in many places, want to give illegal aliens welfare, driver's licenses, and allow them to vote. The reason for this seems obvious, since here is a growing bloc of non-Americans who can be counted on to vote Democrat in every election. As a wise man once observed, if a politician robs Peter to pay Paul, he can count on Paul's vote. But, the liberal will insist, these illegal guys work, perform a service to the economy, and pay taxes (at least, sales taxes-most don't pay any other kind). Now, however, The Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank, has calculated that the average illegal alien who has a job receives $2,700 more per year in welfare benefits than he pays in taxes of all kinds. In 2002 this sapped the federal budget by a total of $10.4 Billion.
And, finally and always, I must ask: what is it about the word, "illegal," that bureaucrats and politicians don't understand? (The Harvey Report)

REJECT THE BIBLE, AND THERE'S NO STOPPING PLACE
When a culture rejects the Bible as its unchanging standard for values, that culture is like a ship without a rudder or anchor, drifting onto rocks and shoals. Destruction surely follows. This is what has been happening in Western Civilization for 2 or 3 generations, starting in Scandinavia. We are on the same downhill slide into the cesspool as they are; they are just ahead of us. And yet, even when we reject God, there is something of the image of God left in us that wants something to believe in-some purpose in life-something, if you will, to worship.
G.K. Chesterton has wisely observed that when one ceases to believe in God it doesn't mean that he will believe in nothing; it means that he will then believe in anything.

An expression of all the above occurred last summer in Norway. During a rock concert in Kristiansand (consider the Christian origin of that name), a young couple climbed onto the stage, undressed and, well-to put it politely-coupled. The rock band played background music as the couple performed. The couple stated that they were "doing it to save the rain forest." They really did say that. And they probably meant it. The performance "was well received by the audience and critics alike." I leave the interpretation to the reader. (Reuters/Apopla [Fla.] Chief)

"KWANZA" IS FICTION
A great many people have been deceived into believing that there is an ancient African celebration called "Kwanza"; it is promoted in this country in certain circles as an "African" alternative to Christmas, and it is increasingly accepted as valid. But there is a fundamental problem here: it is a complete fiction. To quote conservative black activist, Jesse Lee Patterson, "You can look up and down Africa-you're not going to find Kwanza." Kwanza was the creation of one Ron Karenga, head of a radical, Marxist black power group in 1966. Karenga, who was convicted of felony-assault and the torture of two of his followers, was a black racist who hated all things "white" and wanted to turn people away from celebration of Christmas, which he considered a "white thing." This "holiday" is in the same category as the "afro" hair style created in the same period; the real Africans had never heard of that one either, until they began to see pictures of Americans with their hair done that way. (ANS, et al)

THE PRESIDENT'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Amidst the rising crescendo of demands to remove all references to Christ from the Christmas season, one wonders at the irrational madness of it all. I mean, really now-the very idea boggles the mind. One might as well remove all references to the Declaration of Independence from the 4th of July, or remove all references to racing cars from a documentary about NASCAR! It is amusing, though, especially to one such as I, who have been a crusader against the paganism that has increasingly dominated Christmas, because the Christ-haters have now even gone after Santa Claus! Really-and even candy canes, for they connect with Christmas trees. Although most of you probably won't know this, the President, in the midst of all this "no Christmas" insanity, delivered to the nation a beautiful, completely scriptural, Christ-honoring, Christmas message. He spoke of hope and, without apology, tied it to the annunciation to Mary, the journey of the magi, and quoted the old carol which speaks of a "thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." Since this was studiously ignored by the establishment media, we would be glad to send a copy of his address to all who request it. (PWB)

THE DEATH OF REASON
What could be more irrational than to celebrate a holiday, the name of which we are not allowed to speak or write?

TECHNOLOGY FAVORS THE UNBORN
One young mother told me years ago that she was really undecided about abortion until she saw her own baby through ultrasound; she then realized that it was a baby, not a "tissue mass" and was instantly pro-life. Her experience has been multiplied many thousands of times over since then, but now the technology is even better, and making more converts to the protection of the unborn. The latest improvement in ultrasound imagery has been developed by Stuart Campbell, a British professor, and it produces much more distinct, 3-dimensional images. As a result, not only are pregnant mothers seeing their babies more clearly, but medical facts, previously unknown, are being discovered. As early as 12 weeks, babies are seen "walking" in the womb. They stretch, kick, and leap around in the womb, well before the mother can feel such activity. At 18 weeks, they are seen opening their eyes, although it has previously been believed that this didn't happen until 26 weeks. At 26 weeks a baby exhibits a wide range of typical baby behaviors, including scratching, smiling, crying and sucking their thumbs. Prof. Campbell calls the reactions of parents to these images "overwhelming...I have seen mothers in tears, fathers kissing the screen and kissing their wives' abdomens." The Bible has nothing to fear from science; true science, honest science, always confirms it.
(BBC/ANS)

MARTY'S CORNER
Around Thanksgiving time, our daughter Sally said that Randy Cutlip had been on her heart and asked when we'd heard from him last. It seems the older one gets the more swiftly time passes and we really couldn't answer with more than "too long, a couple of years, etc…." Tom said that Randy had called a few years ago and had needed some special medicine. Tom sent him some assistance at that time, but since then, Randy hadn't responded to an occasional note sent to him. But that wasn't unusual because Randy rarely wrote anyone.

So Sally (and later I) went to the internet to see if there was any recent information about him. We found him in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The listing described him this way: Founding member of World Wide Bread Casting Co. … recorded gospel music on the WWBC label. Through this organization he spread his anti-drug ministries through the United States, talking and performing for over one million kids in our nation's schools, churches and prisons. But in addition to the accolades, the listing also contained something which we did not want to find. Along with his date and place of birth, it also listed his date of death (9/17/2000). We were stunned, devastated, and saddened to learn that we didn't even know that he had died.

In the 60's/early 70's, Randy had been a lost musician and played with bands including Three Dog Night and Lynyrd Skynyrd; he played at Woodstock. Lost in a hopeless life of drugs and involvement with the occult, Randy was preparing to commit suicide when Jesus rescued him. The power of God drew Randy unto Him in such a dramatic way that most anyone who ever heard his testimony can still remember it. Randy's testimony is one of the best ones I've ever heard anywhere from anybody. I can still hear Randy talking about his next door neighbor, Blanch, watching him through her venetian blinds which flashed like World War II sailors' signals from ship to ship. I can still hear him telling us in his special voice (and with special emphasis) that God appeared as in a fog one night and said to him, "Nothing…of the enemy…shall…by any means…hurt you." (Luke 10:19) I can still remember him asking "Have you ever seen an unmarked police car trying to follow a bicycle?" (When he got saved, people REALLY couldn't figure out what he was doing - he was being watched by the occult, by the local crime syndicate, and by the police.) If you ask anyone who has been to most of the Retreats, "whose testimony do you remember the most?", you will undoubtedly get two people named, and one of those two WILL be Randy. I've never met anyone else so completely himself nor whose conversion and early walk with the Lord were so totally dependent on the Lord Himself.

For faithful Retreaters, he holds the honor of being the one who changed the direction of Retreats forever. In the Spring of 1979 when the Retreat was at Barkley Lodge, it rained all day Saturday. Randy was the scheduled evening guest, but he didn't just give his testimony and leave, he spent the weekend. On that rain-soaked Sat. afternoon, the youth began to be pulled to the Convention center where they found Randy playing music, singing, talking, and ministering … all afternoon (he must have been exhausted because, except for taking time for supper, he was there continuously from mid-day through the evening service). Soon, the word spread: it is so great-Randy is hanging out with us, talking, ministering, prophesying! It's incredible! ... and all ages drifted over. The Holy Spirit ministered, using Randy, all weekend; and the Holy Spirit became the most welcomed person at Believers' Retreat. As a result, thousands of lives have been changed.

Each of us has a special memory associated with Randy. For me it was a card he once sent us (remember that he rarely sent any notes, cards, or letters). He sent a simple card and on the inside, all it said was, Thank you for loving me. - Randy. We have treasured it.

In Memory of Randy: Thank you for loving us. - the McKenneys
*If you would like to have an audio of Randy's testimony, please contact us at WFLM.

BIBLE TRIVIA
The shortest chapter in the Bible? Psalm 117 (2 verses); it is also the middle chapter in the Bible. The Longest chapter? Psalm 119 (176 verses, divided into groups of 8).

"ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPOKE"
Increasingly, people in public life, who should know better, don't bother to make the verb "to be" agree with the subject in terms of whether it is plural or singular. By far, the most common form of this error involves the use of the contraction "there's," which means "there is"; it is distressingly common to hear professional communicators on radio and TV say things like, "There's 7 or 8 more of them." What they are actually saying is, "There is 7 or 8 more of them." When I hear this obvious error, I usually answer the radio or the TV person with, "Oh, is there really 7 or 8 more"? Of course, they don't hear my correction, but I feel better. Still worse, though, are those mismatched subjects and verbs that don't involve a contraction, for they should be more obvious. Not long ago, the narrator on the History Channel (who is undoubtedly paid a salary in at least six digits) explained that, "loading and unloading was organized." When professional journalists, both print and electronic, who should be the last defenders of correct English, are this sloppy, it makes me crazy. (HC 23 July 04)

PRECIOUS PROMISE
I will both lay me down in peace and sleep; for thou, LORD, only makest me to dwell in safety." (Ps 4:8)

MILESTONES
Married Jan. 05 - Tom Appel, Oceans Springs, Miss., in Nashville, Tenn. Details not available at press time.

Died 29 Nov. 04 - Reed Irvine, founder of Accuracy in Media, a brave pioneer in monitoring the establishment media to
report distortions, inaccuracies and lies.

4 Dec. 04 - Anita Preston, supportive, long-time Christian friend, in Leitchfield, Ky.

26 Dec. 04 - Reggie White, great NFL defensive end, Christian minister, called by sports writers, the "Minister of Defense." A bold Christian, he was persecuted in recent years for publicly speaking the truth about the Bible's view of sodomy, and the collapse of the black family. He died in his sleep, probably of a breathing problem. He was only 43.

31 Dec 04 - Dr. Clifton Wooley, retired physician and dear Christian friend, in Memphis. He was a medical officer in the 33rd Infantry Division in World War II, and was decorated with the Silver Star for running 3,000 yards through Japanese fire to rescue a wounded soldier on Luzon. He took up running after age 70, and ran marathons for 15 years. He was 15 days short of his 95th birthday.

15 Jan 05 - Col. Eugene Holmes, USA (Ret.), dear Christian friend, survivor of the Bataan Death March, a genuine American hero, to whom Bill Clinton lied and then wrote his infamous "loathe the military" letter, in Fayetteville, Ark.

A 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; ANS-Agape News Service; AP-Associated Press; BP-Break Point; BPr-Baptist Press; C-Charisma; CBN-Christian Broadcasting Network; CR-Congressional Record; DR-Drudge Report; EP-Evangelical Press; Fox (Fox News); FOF-Focus on the Family; FRC-Family Research Council; GN-Good News Magazine; HC-History Channel; 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; RTLGC-Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati; 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.)