How Smart is Your Right Foot?

I always smile when someone says that they are the master of their own destiny. If we are in control of our destiny, surely we would be in control of our own body. Yet, the human body has a mind of its own. If you think that you are in control, then stop yourself blinking. You can’t. You are a slave to it, as well as a slave to sleeping, and daily bodily functions. Your liver, lungs, kidneys, heart and other vital organs work independently of your will. You can’t stop yourself dreaming, or thinking, because your subconscious has a mind of its own.

You can’t even outsmart your right foot, because God has pre-programmed your brain to do certain things that are totally independent of your will. Don’t believe it? Then try this. Sit down and lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction (if you are normal).

The Gay “Christian.”

People often ask how to respond to those who are homosexuals, and yet consider themselves to be Christians. While a fornicator, a homosexual, an adulterer, a thief, and liar can become a Christian, it is important to understand that they cannot remain in their sins. If someone does, he is simply a pretender (a hypocrite). To be a Christian, you must stop your sinful lifestyle, commonly called "repentance."

So, how do you tell someone that, without causing undue offense? I would witness to him using God’s Law (the Ten Commandments). I wouldn't mention the homosexual issue until he is humbled, and sin is seen in its true light. There's a very good reason for this. No proud person can see the nature of his own sins. He is blinded by pride. If you have done marriage counselling, you will know this to be true. If there is no humility, there won't be an open ear to reason. So the Law should be used to humble the human heart, show sin in its true light, and hopefully show the person his error, and his great danger.

"Man will believe anything, as long as it’s not in the Bible." Napoleon Bonaparte

Men in White Coats

Years ago a man carrying a a large ladder and wearing a white coat walked in a courtroom while it was in session. He then leaned the ladder against the wall, climbed it and took the court clock. He was a thief. I guess he took the time to answer some sort of "dare."

You may have noticed that doctors on infomercials peddling stuff usually wear white coats. The white coat helps them get away with more than time. It supposedly shows us that they are trustworthy, and many a man in a white coat has carried on some illegitimate operation until the law caught up with him. Despite this, most genuine doctors still wear white coats, because (arguably) it makes us feel more comfortable as they poke, prod and pry.

Some preachers also wear white coats. It may impress some, but we should reserve respect for the man who is clothed in humility. Is your pastor humble of heart? Or is he a wolf in sheep's clothing (of which Jesus warned us to beware)? To find out, you should listen to what comes out of his mouth, because the mouth speaks the abundance of the heart, and out of the heart come the issues of life. Does he preach the unadulterated gospel? Does he have a deep concern for the lost? Does he treat his wife with the utmost respect? Is he separated from the world? Is he unclean in his humor? Does he love and preach from the Scriptures? Does he walk in the fear of God? If not, it would be wise to question if you should be sitting under his teaching and supporting his ministry.

Please Note

Just a note to those of you who have been accusing me of being deceitful, because I have quoted Charles Darwin “out of context.” There’s really no need to get upset, because his admittance that believing that the eye could have happened by natural selection (by accident) “seems I freely confess absurd to the highest degree” doesn’t show that Darwin didn’t believe his own theory. He used the word “seems.” That’s his qualifier. Further on in his writings he said that he actually believed it. Also, my apologies to those of you who say that I am afraid to answer your questions or refute your arguments. Hundreds of comments come through on this blog and I would like to answer each one (especially those that accuse me of saying things I didn’t say), but it is simply a matter of time. Also, don't forget, cussing (even words now commonly accepted) and web site addresses automatically get deleted.

The Boundaries

We were in Green Bay Wisconsin on a cold day in December, and had lost the key to our hotel room. To our surprise, the desk clerk gave us another one without asking to see our ID. She didn’t even ask for our names. If we had done the same thing in California, they would have wanted our names, ID’s, thumb prints, voice recognition, a deposit, and a $35 key fee.

There was a time in the United States when you didn’t have to lock your car or the front door of your house. It was a time when you could trust your neighbors and they could trust you. There was a time when your wife could go shopping after dark and not fear being raped, or you could go camping and not end up being murdered. There were crimes, but it was nothing like it is nowadays.

What has happened to our nation? We have become what the Bible calls "lawless." We have forsaken God’s Law, and when that happens we forsake the fear of God. When a nation loses the fear of the Lord, we lose our moral boundaries. Thus we have contemporary America.

Most Christians know that the salvation for the United States won’t come through economic policies, or through a change of government. It can only come through a change of heart, and only God can change a sin-loving heart into one that loves righteousness. However, it’s important for us to remember that the agenda of the Church of the Book of Acts wasn’t to make Israel the greatest political and economic nation on earth. It was simply to preach the gospel and see sinners saved from the wrath of a holy God. It’s easy for us to get caught up in the temporal, when we should be putting our energies into the eternal.

The Power of Reason

It is easy to prove the reality of the existence of Hell to a “reasoning” person. However, this can’t be done when a person denies that which is axiomatic. When a human being denies God’s existence, he stands on his own oxygen hose. In his futile effort to break free from moral accountability, he cuts himself off from the very thing that can allow him to keep the precious life he so loves--his God-given power of reason. Charles Spurgeon called such a person, a “learned fool.”

The Blind Faithful

Since falling away from my faith in evolution way back in 1972, I can’t help but notice an intolerance towards freedom of thought. This comes from staunch evolution believers, who hold to their faith like a religion. Charles Darwin is exalted by them into papal infallibility. He is robed in pure white as he stands high upon the balcony of time, waving his hand to the faithful. A word from his lips is the gospel truth, and his great commission to true believers is to embark on a crusade, and bring down the swift sword of intolerance upon all who don’t embrace the true faith.

Yet Darwin was nothing but a racist, a bigot of a man, who held to the belief that black people are inferior to whites. This is what he said: "At some future period not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes...will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest Allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilized state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as the baboon, instead of as now between the Negro or Australian and the gorilla." The Descent of Man, "The Races of Man" 1874, p. 178

The above is only one of many racist beliefs of Mr. Darwin. His white robe is hooded and stained with bigotry, and his clan rally to his godless cause with religious zeal. Watch them give a fiery defense of Darwin’s blatant racism.

Building Huts

When I was a kid, I loved building huts. My friends and I would build them on the beach, in backyards, and in trees. It was so much fun. But, even as a child I noticed that there was a problem. We would finish the hut, sit inside it and say, “What will we do now?” There was nothing to do after the hut was finished.

As I matured as a human being I found that adults had the same problem. They would build a house, have kids, the kids grow up and leave, the parents find themselves saying, “What will we do now?” It’s a simplistic and pessimistic view of life, but it's true. Life, because of its transient nature, is futile. It is chasing the wind.

However, when a person is born again, a door opens. It’s the door to the eternal. It banishes the curse of futility. I cannot express the joy that I have in knowing that when I serve God, I am tapping into the eternal: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Plane Speaking

Two hundred years ago “rational” thinking folks would have mocked you if you spoke of the possibility of massive jumbo jets floating through the air filled with human beings. Any sensible person knew that massively heavy objects couldn't possibly float through the air, as though they were lighter than a feather. They "knew" this because of an invisible law--the law of gravity. But we now know that it is possible for this to take place, because of another law that overcomes gravity. When a certain object moves at a certain speed, it supersedes the invisible law of gravity and enters into another invisible law--the law of aerodynamics. Gravity still remains, but the heavy object breaks free from its influence.

The Bible says that all of humanity is subject to an invisible law-- “the law of sin and death.” That law says that the soul that sins will die. Those who deny that it exists should simply take a trip to a graveyard (they will one day). Universal death proves that law is a reality. However, because of the cross, the Christian breaks free from the law of sin and death. The moment he or she repents and trusts in the risen Savior, they move into the influence of another invisible law. This is a higher law--“the law of life in Christ Jesus.” This is simple to prove. The skeptic needs only to step into the plane. Most don't, because of a closed mind. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).

Interesting Thread

<< Matthew Wooller said... This question raises (for me at least) the whole issue of the rapture. Proof for the existence of god? I think that would pretty much do it for me... According to the myth, people will vanish, the dead will rise and head off to heaven -- and we will most likely be under the control of a Jewish, homosexual world leader... Let us not forget that we will also get a red moon and a black sun - a huge meteor will burn one third of grass and trees -- 200 million horse like creatures will run rampant - oh, and fresh water will become blood. Tell you what, if all that bunk comes to pass -- I will have another think about this god thing, I can't promise anything, even then, but I will certainly have another think. Really, water turned to blood and horse like creatures -- golly. >>

Matthew, you may have been watching too many Hollywood movies, or the Discovery Channel, or maybe reading stuff on weird websites, or eating too much cheese before you go to bed (that can cause bad dreams).

I would suggest that you take a deep breath, then read the Bible with a humble heart, praying that God would show you what is prophetically symbolic and what is literal. If you don't do that, you will end up with the nightmare that you have just related. The Bible is a book filled with symbolism--from Ezekiel’s wheels, to the dreams of Joseph and Daniel, to the Book of Revelation, and course, many of the words of Jesus. Again, some things are literal, and some are symbolic.

When Jesus said that He was “the Door,” He didn’t mean a door with literal hinges that swung back and forth. He is the entry to Heaven (see also John 14:6). When He said that His flesh was meat and we were to eat it, He wasn’t speaking of cannibalism. We spiritually “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” When He held the cup of wine and said “This is My blood” and told us to drink it, He wasn’t speaking of His literal blood (He couldn’t have, because His blood was still running through His veins).

Wine is often used as being symbolic of blood--turning the water into wine at the Cana wedding, and water being turned into blood with the plagues of Egypt. All these have hidden and wonderful meanings behind them for those who are willing to dig a little. If you think about it, things that we value in life usually have to be searched out--gold doesn’t lie on top of the ground. You have to search for it. It’s the same with silver, diamonds, pearls, etc., and it’s the same with Bible gems. You have to dig a little to find the riches.

As much as I would like to be, I am not a prophecy expert or even a prophecy buff. I don’t get too deeply into it, because so many people end up with weird and strange scenarios, and what’s more they all think that have it right. I prefer to put my time into trying to reach people like you with the Gospel. Your salvation is infinitely more important to me than my eschatological interpretation.

Tom’s Cruise

The erroneous message of modern evangelism (that Jesus gives peace and happiness) has another rival. This time it’s a big one. Tom Cruise said of Scientology, “We are the authorities on getting people off drugs. We are the authorities on the mind. We are the authorities on improving conditions. We can rehabilitate criminals, [the] way to happiness. We can bring peace.” The promise is that if you get on board, you can have your best life right now, by being part of their “religion,” a religion that ironically has nothing to do with God.

Does Scientology deliver happiness and peace? Those who believe that Jesus came to give us happiness will be quick to say (as I did for years) that the world can’t give true happiness. Even though I preached that, in reality, I was going through trials, temptations, and persecutions that I never experienced as a happy peace-filled non-Christian. There was a time that I found myself in such a deep ‘wilderness” experience, I was in absolute despair.

The truth is that Jesus didn’t come to give happiness, he came to give us righteousness. The difference between the two, is life and death.

This is Very Strange

There were a group of people who were born blind. One of the leaders planned to take the entire group into an area in which there was dangerous ditch that had a huge drop into fast-moving water. It was such a death-trap authorities had placed a red light front of it, warning people not to go near the crumbling edge. When the blind men were told of the light, they wouldn’t listen. They instead laughed, and mockingly said that there was no such thing as a “red” light. They became confirmed in their error when they cynically asked for a description of it. But no one could describe the color red to someone who was born blind.

Then came one of the reasons for their cynicism. One of them adamantly testified that he pretended for 19 years that "red" did exist. He even taught others about the color, and wrote songs about it. Maybe he liked being the center of attention, or maybe he did it for the money. He was totally blind, and yet he was able to fake it for all those years, which is very strange.

What's even stranger, is that these blind men then decided to meet regularly, and they became so fanatical about their belief that there’s no such thing as ”red,” that they are trying to censor anyone (including school children) from believing in it. And all this is done in the name of freedom and intelligence. Very strange.

They truly are the blind leading the blind: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

Atheists Evolved From Chickens

A loving Christian brother just emailed me and said, “Man-o-man. There are some bitter, furious, Christian hatin' bloggers out there!!!” I told him that he is seeing comparatively nice ones. They know that I delete anything with blasphemy or cussing. He’s right though. Some of the atheists that are part of this blog are pretty nasty. So, I have decided to return a bit of the fire (in love, of course).

My new theory is that perhaps atheists evolved from the chicken, because they not only have chicken characteristics--a head, eyes, mouth, skin, neck, heart, earlobes and legs (homology structures), but they also have the chicken’s tendencies--they are chicken livered. They hang around Christians like annoying little bugs hang around light, trying to inject their poison whenever they can.

If you are an atheist, I hope I’m ruffling your feathers. I want to get under your skin and ask why you don’t have the courage to even whisper to Muslims what you keep shouting at Christians. Prove me wrong. Get onto a Muslim website and tell them that you don’t believe their god exists. Do your little “I don’t believe in Zeus” thing. Tell them they believe a myth. Make sure you use the word "fairytale." Talk about Mohammed as you do Jesus (use your usual lower case for Mohammed). Do your “I don’t believe in the flying spaghetti monster” thing. Tell them that you believe that they weren’t made by (a) god, but that they evolved from primates (that will go down well).

Explain that you think they are blind simpletons to believe the way they do, and that even though there is a creation, you don't see any evidence that there is a Creator. Let them know that you think that it's intelligent to believe the way you do. You may as well explain that even though you don't believe in God's existence, you use His name as a cuss word, because you think it's worthless. Also, let them know in no uncertain terms that you believe that the Koran is full of mistakes (give some examples), and that their mosques are full of hypocrites.

You wouldn’t dare, because you are chicken-livered. You know that they are not like Christians. Despite the “anonymity” of your little chicken coop, they would come after you to lop off your head. And when they find you, you would fall on your knees and be praying to God for help, quicker than I can move a fly swat . . . and I'm pretty quick. So, think about what you are doing, and think about how much you value your life. Then think about what we are telling you. Think.

The Harmony of the Gospels

I noticed that a skeptic recently mocked the Bible, challenging someone to make sense of the gospel accounts of the resurrection. Let me quote from, The Evidence Bible: “Both Matthew and Mark list women as the first to see the resurrected Christ. Mark says, ‘He appeared first to Mary Magdalene’ (16:9). But Paul lists Peter (Cephas) as the first one to see Christ after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:5). Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, then to the other women, and then to Peter. Paul was not giving a complete list, but only the important one for his purpose. Since only men’s testimony was considered legal or official in the first century, it is understandable that the apostle would not list the women as witnesses in his defense of the resurrection here. The order of the appearances of Christ is as follows: 1. Mary: John 20:10–18, 2. Mary: and women Matthew 28:1–10, 3. Peter: 1 Corinthians 15:5, 4. Two disciples: Luke 24:13–35, 5. Ten apostles: Luke 24:36–49; John 20:19–23, 6. Eleven apostles: John 20:24–31, 7. Seven apostles: John 21, 8. All apostles: Matthew 28:16–20; Mark 16:14–18, 9. 500 brethren: 1 Corinthians 15:6, 10. James: 1 Corinthians 15:7, 11. All apostles: Acts 1:4–8, 12. Paul: Acts 9:1–9; 1 Corinthians 15:8.” Now that it makes sense to our skeptic, he will be quick to repent and trust the Savior. Yeah, right.

Loaded Gunn

A 52 year old man was arrested and his lawn-mower impounded after driving down the street in Dargaville, New Zealand. Richard Gunn, 52, had an alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit for drivers, police said, and he previously had lost his driver's license. Gunn said he has been using the lawn mower to get around town since losing his license. “I thought I was safe,” he told TV One News. Even bicycles went faster than the lawn mower's 5 mph, he said. “I've watched them go past me.”

I’m sure that the courts will take into account the type of vehicle Gunn was driving. If you were the judge, would you think that this was just a man driving a lawnmower who didn’t think too deeply, or was it a rebellious irresponsible drunk, who totally disregarded the law, and could have run over and killed a child? That is the job of the judge--to make the right judgment, once all the evidence comes in.

This brings up an important point that is often leveled at us by skeptics. They maintain that God is unjust in that He is going to throw the little sweet old lady into Hell, along with Adolph Hitler. Not so. Everyone will get exactly what they deserve. It’s called “equity” in Scripture. The Bible uses words like “greater damnation” for certain people. Whatever happens on that terrible Day will be absolute and perfect justice, given fairly to those who are guilty. No more. No less.

Open Air Preaching

<< Rebecca said...First--I am not a feminist, so that does not motivate the question. It is more looking for a way out of such a responsibility. Do women ever do open air preaching? I've never seen it. Call me a coward, I just can't imagine doing it, since (grateful for an excuse) I have my four year old in tow wherever I go. Terrifying thought to get up and have people heckle me. I have a desire to share the gospel, just not that way.>>

Rebecca, I appreciate your honesty. Yes, women do open air preach, and it’s wonderful (two of the girls from our staff do it regularly). Here’s some thoughts: I’m sure you would agree, that sharing the gospel with someone who is prepared to listen is like giving a starving person life-giving food. Imagine having two people listen to what you have to say. Now imagine 200--listening to every word, and hearing how they can find everlasting life. That’s open air preaching on a good day.

Let me tell you two secrets about fear and preaching open air. It is only there before you preach. It’s like standing beside an unheated swimming pool on a hot day. The longer you stand there, the harder it becomes to dive in. You simply have to take the plunge, and when you do there is the initial chill of the flesh, but then it automatically adjusts, and you are swimming. That’s what happens when you dive in and preach. When you see others dive in, and see them swimming, it will give you courage. The second point is about hecklers. This is going to sound weird, but your fear of hecklers will disappear the moment you get a good one. They are the best thing that could ever happen, because they will double your listeners and sharpen your mind. Once you have had one, you will fear getting up to preach and not getting one. Why? Because every question they come up with is old hat. There really in nothing new under the sun. We have a DVD called “Open Air Preaching--Four in One” where you can actually see all this in action, and get teaching on the subject. Here’s the blurb: “Comfort as he takes a team from David Wilkerson's church and open air preaches in Washington Square, New York, right in the middle of a Hare Krishna convention. Witness an encounter with the New York police, learn how to draw a crowd using a fake funeral, and discover how to handle ‘hecklers.’ Then go step by step though open air preaching at UCLA and other Southern California universities. Also join Ray and his team as they preach open air in Paris, Jerusalem, London, Tokyo, Santa Monica, New Zealand and Amsterdam.” It was seeing the New York open air preaching video that caused Kirk Cameron to contact me, and to get involved in this ministry. For details see: www.livingwaters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=620&Category_Code=DVDs

The Abundant Life

We live in a time of what has been called “Christianity Light.” The word “light” in this context means “without substance.” The principles taught from these lightweight pulpits lack evangelistic punch, and instead are designed to help people make it through the struggles of this life. The hearers learn that there is a better way of living than that of the world. The fruit of this is that there is little difference between the moral lifestyles of the world and those who profess godliness.

Jesus didn’t come to bring us a “better” life. Those who advocate that He did will be quick to point to John 10:10, in which He said that He came to bring us life, and life “more abundantly.” The word “abundant” doesn’t mean better, richer and happier. It simply means life in its “fullness.” And if you study the life of the Apostle Paul, you will find that it was full. It was full of trials, tribulations, temptations, and persecutions. He was hated, beaten, mocked, whipped, stoned, imprisoned, and finally martyred. He told Timothy that all who live “godly” in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. So, what’s the point in being a Christian? Why live godly in Christ Jesus if that’s what you get?

It’s like being in a plane that is soon to crash, and you have a parachute on because you know that you have to jump 10,000 feet at any moment. The flight may get bumpy, and the passengers may mock you, but who cares? What you are temporarily going through is nothing compared to their fate. So, is your goal to enjoy the flight? Of course not. You want to encourage the other passengers to put their parachute on before it’s too late. You can’t live with the thought of what is going to happen to them.

Listen to the wonderful words of the beloved (and much hated) Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon: “If by excessive labor we die before reaching the average age of man, worn out in the Master’s service, then glory be to God. We shall have so much less of earth and so much more of Heaven. It is our duty and our privilege to exhaust our lives for Jesus. We are not to be living specimens of men in fine preservation, but living sacrifices, whose lot is to be consumed.”

The Ending is a Little Cheesy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o_3UIhK-Pw

Toying with Truth

I was alone in our house when suddenly I heard strange voices. They were too loud to be coming from any of the neighbors’ houses, but they weren’t loud enough to be coherent. It didn’t make sense. Who was in our house? I stopped working on my laptop and listened closely. The voices were still incoherent. Then I listened again. This time it was clear what was being said. I distinctly heard “e i e i o.” It was Old MacDonald and his noisy farm. For some reason, one of the toys in the grandkid’s play room had decided to do its thing.

We are reasoning beings, and it’s frustrating when something happens and we can’t explain it. I was once frustrated with the meaning of life. It happened, and I couldn’t explain it. Happy though I was, I needed more than a nebulous theory as to our origins. I wanted to know the truth. On April 25th, 1972 I discovered the truth. I found that “In the beginning God created . . . “ The Creator spoke. He said, “Let there be light.” And that light is still available to those who come out of the darkness. From the moment you hear His voice, you will know the truth. The Christian doesn’t have a million voices telling him a thousand different things. We have One voice, and that’s enough. The mystery is solved.

Something for Atheists to Think About

A personal note to all the atheists that seem to hang around the Light. I moderate this blog myself, and I have watched with amazement as patient Christians have lovingly answered your predictable objections. I have let most of the blogs through in the hope that you may soften your heart and listen, although, by the proud way most of you talk, that doesn't seem likely.

We don’t need to prove to you anything about Christianity. We are very secure in our faith, because it's not founded on a "belief," but on the immovable Rock of Ages--Jesus Christ, before whom you will bow the knee.

The reason we respond to you is because we are deeply concerned about where you will spend eternity, even though you are not. Here’s the bottom line: If you have lied and stolen (anything), you are a lying thief. Jesus said “Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.” If you hate someone, the Bible says you are a murderer . . . and you have to face God on Judgment Day whether you believe in Him or not. This is why you need a Savior--“All liars will have their part in the lake of fire.” Adulterers, thieves and fornicators (those who have sex out of marriage) will not inherit the Kingdom of God. We don’t want you to end up in Hell (a place we know exists). The wrath of God came upon the Savior so that it wouldn’t have to come upon you. If you refuse God’s offer of mercy, He will give you justice, and that is a fearful thing. Please, repent and trust in Jesus today, before death seizes on you. Humble yourself and seek the truth. You don't need us to tell it to you. You have enough light, so seek the Lord while He may be found. Thank you for reading this. Please know that there are many people praying for you.

Those who say that Christianity is a “guilt trip” are correct. It’s a guilt trip to the foot of a blood-stained cross, where the guilt is removed.

Stubborn as a Mule

My friend Scotty, his wife Carol, and I were setting up to preach the gospel in our usual spot at Huntington Beach. It was a warm Saturday afternoon, with a lot of people milling around. As we were doing so, a street performer, who ate fire and hammered nails into his nose, (a hard act to follow) came across for a friendly chat. He smiled as he suggested that we wait until he had done his act, before we spoke. He said it was in our best interest. I wasn’t too happy to do that, but he said that he would only be fifteen minutes, maybe twenty, and that we could preach after he had finished. I knew that he had a much longer act, so I told him that I would think about it. He was very congenial, friendly, kind, and very accommodating. He just wanted the best for us, and for him.

After he left, I suggested that we pray about the situation. We didn’t want to upset him, but we didn’t want to stand there for an hour, waiting for him to finish. We didn’t have an “act,” but the message of everlasting life.

I then walked across to my kind and accommodating friend. As I approached him I said, “We have decided to give you twenty minutes, and then we will begin.” His facial expression changed. He gritted his teach and hissed, “Don’t you tell me what to do!” Then he railed at me. Suddenly I saw that I was dealing with more than just flesh and blood. Fire didn’t just go into his mouth.

We went ahead and preached. Our fire-eating-nose-nailing friend had his crowd, and we had ours. It was a good day, and many heard the words of everlasting life.

It’s so easy to forget that our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. It’s against a subtle demonic world. So be careful to never allow anyone to stop you from sharing your faith, no matter how nice and reasoning they may be. Shake off their subtle poison, and read the Book of Acts. See how the disciples refused to obey those who tried to stop their mouths. Stay in righteousness, be loving, be kind, be as gentle as a dove, and stubborn as a mule. Remember that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a mule. Be lowly of heart, be obstinate in purpose, and carry Jesus of Nazareth to the unsaved. Listen to His voice, not the voice of the crowd. They will cry “Hosanna” one moment, and “Crucify Him” the next.

My Dumb Inventions

I can’t claim that I invented the poor man’s remote. Back in the 1970’s there may have been other poor men who did what I did. I took some fishing tackle and strung it up the wall of the living room, along the ceiling, and down to our TV set, where I hooked it to the channel-changer and volume switch (I have a very tolerant wife). With a mere pull of the tackle, I could adjust the volume and change the channel without getting out of my chair.

I also gave some serious thought to the tragedy of kids drowning in swimming pools. My potential invention was a belt that children would wear any time they were around a pool. It would automatically inflate when it came into contact with water. The problem was, if the child was heavier above the water, it could turn him upside down. I dropped that one.

Then there was the “Air bag T-shirts.” They wouldn’t work, because annoying people would hit the wearer on the chest.

I did have an idea that would stop cars from having head-on collisions. It was the “V” shaped front and rear bumpers. These would protrude at least ten feet in the front and at the rear into sharp points, so that two cars that had them fitted couldn’t have a head-on, even if they wanted to. There were a couple of problems with the idea. Parking wouldn’t be easy, and rear-ending a car that hadn’t been fitted wouldn’t be a nice sight. Side-on collisions would be a problem too.

Then there was my digital-clock-combination-smoke-detector. The user would know that his battery went dead because his clock stopped running. That would be a life-saver.

Millions are off work because they have bad backs from lifting. My belt buckle that snapped down into an “L” shape fixed that. This meant that when a worker picked up a heavy box, he puts it onto the clipped down belt buckle. This would result in straightening, rather than bending of the spine.

There was also the grass-green paint, mixed with a flexible rubber, so that it could be sprayed onto lawns. The lawn would die when it was sprayed, but it would stay the same length. This would result in two things. First, no one would ever have to mow another lawn. And second result would be that I would be murdered by professional gardeners, lawn mower manufacturers and lawn-mower salesmen.

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• “You're going to have to store all of these and put them in a book. You could call it 'Comfort Gold.' I would buy it.”
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• “Shut up, OK?! There is no God . . . OK!!?”
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• “I have no idea why I even read this blog sometimes -- except maybe that it's like slowing down to rubberneck at an accident on the freeway.”
• “It really encourages and gives insight to very important subjects and every day situations and questions.”

“I have known what it is to use up all my ammunition, and then I have, as it were, rammed myself into the great gospel gun and fired myself at the hearers—all my experience of God’s goodness, all my consciousness of sin, and all my sense of the power of the gospel.” Charles Spurgeon

The Smell

No one smells like a smoker. It’s true, and what’s more, they don’t realize how bad they smell. The reason they smell so poorly is that that have deadened the sensitivity of their nose. They literally can’t smell the smells that a non-smoker can.

The conscience is like a nose. It sniffs out the stench of sin. Someone who has deadened the sensitivity of his conscience literally can’t detect how morally bad he is. That’s why we need God’s Law. It stirs the conscience so that it can detect sin. When the conscience does its bloodhound duty, it shows us that we don’t smell like a rose, but that even our very best deeds stink (for want of a better word) to high Heaven. Check out Isaiah 64:6 and Romans 3:10-20 to sniff out more details.

I Don’t Believe in Zeus or Mother Nature

As I daily gather my chicken's eggs, I usually mumble “Thank you ladies.” But I’m not really thanking the dumb birds. I am thanking God. I go to the source. I also thank Him for the miracle of milk. Cows just eat the grass, and it miraculously turns into milk (if you don't think its miraculous, try turning green grass into white milk without one of God’s animals). Then try turning the white milk you have made out of green grass into yellow butter, ice cream, yoghurt, and cheese. The next time you lick an ice cream, think about how good God is to give us those things.

I also thank Him for little green, and big red apples. I don’t thank the dirt that nurtured them. There’s no such person as Mother Earth or Mother Nature. They exist only in the imaginations of the Godless. Nature has no idea what it’s doing when it produces trees that give us oranges, apricots, lemons, bananas, pears, and nuts; or plants that give us tomatoes, grapes and a million different flowers. How wonderful it is of God, to give us those things. Knowing Him enriches creation. It becomes an expression of His great love and His infinite genius. How shallow and empty is the mind and existence of those who don’t see God in everything. Albert Einstein was right when he said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

American Pie

How music-savvy are you? Do you know the words to the famous song American Pie? Sing along: “Did you write the Book of Love? Do you have faith in God above? Do you believe in Rock and Roll? Can music save your mortal soul?” Interesting words. One of the virtues of being made in God’s image is that we can appreciate good music. No doubt you enjoy listening to a catchy tune, but have you ever taken the time to thank God for the fact that you’re not deaf? To be able to hear is an unspeakable blessing.

Do you love the vivid colors of flowers and birds on this amazing planet on which we live? Then thank God that you can feast your eyes on all this color. Count your blessings. Thank Him that you are not blind. If you suddenly go blind, science can’t do a thing for you. It hasn’t a clue how to even begin to make an eye. Where do you start? What would you use? Where do you gather the 137,000,000 light sensitive cells? How do you make focusing muscles that move 100,000 times a day?

Do you enjoy good food? Then thank God that you are not starving to death in some African country, lying on the ground with flies crawling across your face. God has been good to you. He hasn’t treated you according to your sins. We can read, think, feel and love, and it’s a sad fact of human nature that familiarity does breed contempt. We don't know what we've got, until it's gone. The truth is, most of us have been given a generous slice of the American pie.

Do you love life? Then thank God that you haven’t yet died in your sins and been damned from all of His future goodness. It’s not too late for you to repent and trust the Savior. And make sure you don’t fall into the trap of superficial thanksgiving. Thanksgiving without obedience to God is nothing but empty hypocrisy. Prove that you are genuine in your appreciation of His goodness, by obedience to His Word (see John 14:21 for further details).

Now, sing along, "This could be the day that I die; this could be the day that I die . . . "

Never have faith in a man who has no faith in God.

Wrongly Named

On a summer day in 1948, a Swiss mountaineer named George de Mestral returned from a walk with his dog, who was covered with “burrs”--the plant seed-sacs that cling to animal fur in order to travel to fertile new planting grounds. He put a burr under a microscope, and saw the amazing sight of small hooks that enabled the seed-bearing burr to cling to the tiny loops in the fabric of his pants. He realized that they were intelligently designed, and from there George invented “Velcro” (a combination of the word velour and crochet). He should have called it “Copy-God.” Instead, Velcro was patented in 1955. The rest is history.

Interesting Thread

<< captain howdy said...Ray--Failed prophesy: “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 10:23). “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power” (Mark 9:1). All failed prophecies. >>

The key is the word “power” (in the verse you quoted--Mark 9:1). The Kingdom of God came with “power” on the Day of Pentecost (see Acts 1:8). Remember, there is a spiritual kingdom (see John 3:3), and a literal Kingdom (the one that will be set up on earth by God Himself). You are greatly mistaken when you say that they are failed prophecies. You neither know the Scriptures, nor the power of God.

Unholy Huddle

Early in 2008, a couple were snowboarding in New Mexico when they became lost in a snow storm. They had cell phone ability to call for help, but decided not to because they were experienced hikers. They believed that they could save themselves. They built a snow hut and spent the night huddled together in the freezing conditions. It was the next morning that they realized that they weren’t going to be able to make it alone, so they called for help, and then they carved an SOS in the snow. Had they not forsaken their own efforts, they certainly would have perished.

Most of humanity huddles together in this cold world, thinking that they are going to save themselves. They trust in their own religious works. It’s only when they realize that their hope of saving themselves is hopeless, that they will humble themselves and call upon the name of the Lord. May God help them to understand this, and that time is running out.

Science Confirms the Bible

I have noticed that some atheists have made blanket statements saying that the Bible doesn't contain any scientific facts. That is not true. Even though it isn't a "scientific book," the Bible does contain scientific facts. Many of these were written thousands of years before man discovered them, showing the supernatural fingerprint of God all over Scriptures. My apologies for the poor reformatting. They are taken directly from our tract "Science confirms the Bible" (www.livingwaters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=284):

1. THE BIBLE: The earth is a sphere (Isaiah 40:22). SCIENCE NOW: The earth is a sphere. SCIENCE THEN: The earth was a flat disk.
2. THE BIBLE: Incalculable number of stars (Jeremiah 33:22). SCIENCE NOW: Incalculable number of stars. SCIENCE THEN: Only 1,100 stars.
3. THE BIBLE: Free float of earth in space (Job 26:7). SCIENCE NOW: Free float of earth in space. SCIENCE THEN: Earth sat on a large animal.
4. THE BIBLE: Creation made of invisible elements (Hebrews 11:3). SCIENCE NOW: Creation made of invisible elements (atoms). SCIENCE THEN: Science was mostly ignorant on the subject.
5. THE BIBLE: Each star is different (1 Corinthians 15:41). SCIENCE NOW: Each star is different. SCIENCE THEN: All stars were the same.
6. THE BIBLE: Light moves (Job 38:19,20). SCIENCE NOW: Light moves. SCIENCE THEN: Light was fixed in place.
7. THE BIBLE: Air has weight (Job 28:25). SCIENCE NOW: Air has weight. SCIENCE THEN: Air was weightless.
8. THE BIBLE: Winds blow in cyclones (Ecclesiastes 1:6). SCIENCE NOW: Winds blow in cyclones. SCIENCE THEN: Winds blew straight.
9. THE BIBLE: Blood is the source of life and health (Leviticus 17:11). SCIENCE NOW: Blood is the source of life and health. SCIENCE THEN: Sick people must be bled.
10. THE BIBLE: Ocean floor contains deep valleys and mountains (2 Samuel 22:16; Jonah 2:6). SCIENCE NOW: Ocean floor contains deep valleys and mountains. SCIENCE THEN: The ocean floor was flat.
11. THE BIBLE: Ocean contains springs (Job 38:16). SCIENCE NOW: Ocean contains springs. SCIENCE THEN: Ocean fed only by rivers and rain.
12. THE BIBLE: When dealing with disease, hands should be washed under running water (Leviticus 15:13). SCIENCE NOW: When dealing with disease, hands should be washed under running water. SCIENCE THEN: Hands washed in still water.

An Important Question for Christians

How many of you think that our faith stands or falls on the Scriptures--if the Bible is proven to be false, then Christianity falls? Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

By the way. I thank God for the kind and polite replies many of you have given in the face of the condescending mockery that has been leveled at you in the blogs.

Another Wild Idea

I guess that one of the reasons God made flowers was to get men off the hook with women. Many times I have done or said something dumb and been able to redeem myself with a rose from the garden, and a sincere note of apology. I love sending flowers to loved ones or someone I want to encourage. However, the cost often hits me as hard in the conscience as it does in the wallet. I think of how many meals I could buy for a starving child with the same amount of money. If a flower company had an option called “Flowers for Food,” I would take that option. Instead of the recipient getting a $60 bunch of flowers, they would get one beautiful rose and a quality card that says, “This rose is a token of my deep love for you. I actually paid for a dozen roses for you, but only one was sent. This is because 75% of the money spent on you was instead sent to the Children’s Hunger Fund, a reputable organization that spends 99% of its donations on starving children. I thought this would give you more joy than eleven more roses.”

The Whistler

I was sitting with one of my graphic artists in front of his high tech computer, when I heard a strange sound. It was like a very faint whistle. I asked if he could hear it. He stopped what he was doing for a moment, and listened. He couldn’t detect the sound, and so we went back to that on which we were working. A moment later I said, “There is goes again! It’s a very faint whistle. Listen.” He stopped working, and in the quiet stillness, both of us listened intently. No whistle. So, we went back to work. Then I heard it again! It definitely was a very faint whistling sound. I said, “There it is again! It could be your computer.” He stopped working for the third time (he’s a very patient man), and once again, in the absolute stillness we listened intently. Then, after about 15 seconds of dead silence, he heard it. He had a cold and his blocked nose was making a slight whistle as he breathed. Duh. We were both slightly embarrassed.

The Atheist Video

We have a new video coming out very soon. It’s called “Dinner with 40 Atheists.” When it was edited, someone in my office asked who it was who edited it. The short conversation sparked off a lot of laughter. It went like this: “Who edited it? Ed edited it.” Try saying that a couple of times while you are eating tomato soup. After we all tried saying “Ed edited it” a few times, I added to it who actually edited it. Ed didn’t edit it. I was just kidding. It was Duane who did it. He edited it. He is the brilliant director and producer of “The Way of the Master” television series. So if you feel like your mouth may not work when it comes to witnessing to atheists, this educational edifying edition will give you the edge. I will let you know when it’s available.

Even the intricacies of the brain of an atheist should be enough evidence to prove the existence of God.

Witnessing to Witnesses

How do you witness to a Jehovah’s Witness? Simply say this: “I have a knife in my back, and I am dying. I have three minutes to live. How can I enter the Kingdom?” Then listen to what he says. He will be thrown into a flurry, because his religion is based on works (as apposed to the biblical truth that salvation is a gift--see Romans 6:23). A Jehovah’s Witness must do things to be saved, and that scenario exposes his motives--he is trusting in "self-righteousness." From there, ask if he thinks that he is a good person. He will more than likely say that he thinks he is. The reason for this is because his self-righteous efforts reveal it. He knows that he is a sinner, but he believes that his sin isn’t so bad that he can’t earn his own way out of it, and “merit” Heaven.

So, you have to take him through the Ten Commandments to show him that what he is trying to do it impossible. The small leap he is trying to make is a gigantic chasm. To be saved he first must understand that God is perfect and holy, that He considers lust to be adultery, hatred to be murder, and He will see to it that absolute justice is done. That means that adulterers, murderers, liars and thieves will be damned forever. Once a person sees that he is a Law-breaker (a criminal who is trying to bribe the Judge of the Universe with his "works") he will hopefully trust in His mercy alone to save him. That’s how the thief on the cross was saved--through mercy alone. He didn’t do anything to be saved. He couldn’t go door-to-door or do good works. He couldn’t, because he was nailed to the cross. That’s what God's Law does to us. It nails us because of our guilt. The only thing we can do is turn to Jesus on the cross, and say, “Lord, remember me.” And even that ability to “turn” to Him is given to us by God. He “gives repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (see 1 Timothy 2:25-26). We are saved by grace, through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). So plant that seed in the hearts of those who think they can be saved by their own works, and then pray that God causes it to grow and produce fruit.

The Power of Not Believing

I am reading a book at the moment that was written by a very well-known American Christian. He talks about God helping him to give his best to everything to which he put his hand. He's a real winner. He meets Hollywood celebrities, sports stars, and famous politicians (on almost every page), and they all love and respect him. But not once does he say that he shared the gospel with them. Didn't it enter his mind to ask where these folk will end up if they die in their sins? Doesn’t he care? Doesn't he read the Bible? Doesn't he believe it's words? This is the tragedy of contemporary Christianity. What a contrast to the Book of Acts.

For Christian Eyes Only

We are never so arrogant as when we are young. We think that we are invincible. However, the sad realities of life tend to humble such haughtiness. Add atheism to youth and you have a Molotov cocktail. The Bible says in 2 Peter 2:1 that there is a category of people who will depart from the faith (false converts) and end up “denying the Lord that bought them.” These are the “Judas” category. They look and act like disciples of Christ, and, like Judas, they may be so trusted that they even look after the church finances. But time is the test. Like Judas, they eventually sell out for the world. Temptation exposes them. The scary thing for these people is that they have God’s promise (in 2 Peter 2:1) that they will be swiftly destroyed. If you don’t think God would do such a thing, read Genesis 38, and see how He killed a man because He didn’t like what he did sexually. Or read in the Book of Acts how God killed a husband and wife, simply because they told one lie. God is holy, and His patience isn't everlasting. So, if you are in the Judas category (and you read this when I suggested that you didn’t), make sure you look three ways before you cross the road.

Eggshell Face

Experts tell us that most deaths from sky diving happen because of “human error,” insinuating that if you are careful, you will be okay. Duh. Most premature deaths are from human error. Human error comes into play with car accidents, drug overdoses, pedestrian deaths, falls down stairs, medical “mistakes,” etc. There’s a reason that the “Dummies” series of books sell so well. We are crash dummies that are prone to error. Just read blogs for a few moments, and you will see what I mean. Despite careful checking, typos and wrong words sneak through. None of us is inflammable . . um. . . infallible.

Experts think that when 21 year-old Shana Richardson jumped on her first accelerated free fall from 10,000 feet, she made a mistake. She began to spin out of control and ended up hitting the ground face first at 50 MPH. She was “egg-shelled,” and ended up with 15 metal plates in her face. So, think twice before you risk your most precious possession for a quick thrill. If you are bored with life and you need an adrenalin rush, try open air preaching. It’s more dangerous than sky diving (see Acts 7:57-60), arguably more scary, and infinitely more productive. And if your life is taken from you while you are preaching, at least your death will not be from human error. It will rather be by divine permission.

Be Wise

One key to good health is to check the genetic makeup of your ancestors. Did your great grandmother have problems with diabetes or osteoporosis? Then adjust your sugar and calcium diet accordingly. Did your great grandfather die of heart disease? Then lay off too much fat, and get plenty of exercise. Find out the potential problem, then work towards its avoidance. That’s what I did when I was 22 years old. I looked at my ancestors and saw that they had all died. All of them. So I began to see if there was any way for the potential problem of death to be avoided. First, I found the cause of death (something the scientific community can’t figure). It is a terminal genetic disease called “inherited sin.” Then, to my utter amazement (by the grace of God), I discovered the cure--repentance towards God and implicit trust in Jesus Christ. After all these years, that "amazement" is still there.

A wise man once said that when he became a Christian, he gave up that which he could not keep (his terminal life), to gain that which he could not lose (the eternal life of God in him). Be wise; give up your life. Surrender it to God, and put your trust in the Savior. If you are genuine in your commitment to Him, you will never look back, and you will never regret it. Not for a mille-second . . . and you will live in eternal amazement.

Myth Blown Apart

Do you know much about history? Okay, here’s a question for you. How tall was Napoleon Bonaparte? If you said that he was very short, you are right. Sort of. After he died, his body was measured in French feet (pieds de roi) at 5’ 2”, but it was never correctly converted to the standard English measure. In English feet, he was 5’ 6 ½”. So, you were wrong. The belief that Napoleon was very short, was a myth. To a very short man, he was reasonably tall, but to a tall man, he was fairly short. It all depends on your perspective. These thoughts teach us two things. First, don’t believe everything you read in history books as being factual, including what I have just quoted. And second, “short” and “tall” are relative, just as the words “good” and “evil” are relative terms if you don’t have an absolute (unchanging) moral stand by which to measure them. God has given us an unchanging measuring standard in His moral Law. Our ability to interpret that Law (and thereby determine good and evil) is the measure of our Christian maturity (see Hebrews 5:14). Have you come to the point of knowing what is morally right and wrong? If you are not sure, begin with Matthew chapter 5 and read through to chapter 7. That will give you the right perspective.

Thought Provoking

If there was an announcement that a massive asteroid was going to hit the earth in one hour, what would you do with your last sixty minutes?

Where is God?

Why doesn’t God show Himself to humanity, so that every skeptic would shut his mouth? Just one appearance would do. This was the cry of the prophet Isaiah (see Isaiah 64:1-2). Moses asked God to show Himself, and was told that he couldn’t see Him and live. Here is why. The Bible tells us that God is light. This isn’t the light with which we are familiar. It’s called “unapproachable” light. When Saul of Tarsus was converted on the Road to Damascus, he saw the unapproachable light, and it was “above the brightness of the sun.” It was so powerful, it blinded him permanently (but for God's healing grace).

Think for a moment about the sun. It is so powerful, we can’t even look at for more than a brief moment without it severely damaging our eyes. It is a massive ball of fire that is so big, this earth fits into its volume more than a million times. And it was created by the One who we are told is "fire." Scripture reveals “our God is a consuming fire.” Why does the Bible use the word "consuming?" It speaks of Him coming in a fearful "flaming fire." Why would it say that, if God is supposed to be good and kind? For the same reason a good and kind judge is wrath-filled at a devious and unrepentant murderer, who has raped and slit the throats of a number of innocent young girls. The judge's goodness is manifest in his anger.

God is unspeakably wrath-filled at sinful humanity, because He is holy, just and good. That’s why Moses couldn’t stand in His presence. Moses was like you and me. He was a sinner--a criminal, with a desperately wicked heart. If he stood before God, the holiness of His goodness as a flaming fire would have "consumed" him. Moses would have been an anvil for Eternal Justice. The only way he could be in the presence of the "goodness" of God, was for him to be hidden in the cleft of a rock. Once he was sheltered in the rock, he was allowed to look at where God has been (read the account for yourself in Exodus chapter 33).

Look now at this terrifying warning about the future: “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). When the holiness of God Almighty is manifest at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (and, as sure as Hell, it will be), every unsaved person will scream, “Why didn’t you warn us!” And we will say, “We tried to warn you. Oh how we tried. We told you that God had provided a cleft in the Rock, in which you could hide. He gave us a Savior so that we wouldn't have to perish. We wrote books about this incredibly good news. We printed millions of gospel tracts, we gave away Bibles, recorded CDs, produced television and radio programs, made DVD’s, left our loved ones and the comfort of our homes and preached until we were hoarse. We wept on our knees for you, and then pleaded with you, but you wouldn’t listen. You instead argued about evolution and creation. You twisted our words. Your questioned our motives. You slurred our integrity, and called us liars. Now you have to face the Justice of a holy God. The time has come for the villain to get what’s coming to him. It is time for equity, and Hell is your just reward. You have no one to blame but yourself. Your blood is on your own head.” What a fearful thing, to fall into the hands of the Living God.

<< Hi Ray, I grew up Christian, but have recently been struggling with the existence of an omnipresent, unconditional God. I don't feel it's as easy as a fish in the ocean. I can see my environment quite clearly, but God makes it difficult. I understand. He wants us to choose to love Him. For me, it's not a question of evolution or creation. I just have an abject fear that God doesn't exist. In your opinion, does this make me a "false convert"? Do you struggle with doubt? Do you have any suggestions for someone like me?.>>

Cubprogeny, you need not fear. Just say this to yourself: "Every building has a builder. You can't have a building without a builder (try and think of one). Buildings don't happen by themselves. It's impossible ("For every house is built by some man . . ." Hebrews 3:4). The same principle applies to paintings and painters. The painting is absolute proof that there is a painter (try and think of a painting that didn’t have a painter). Paintings don't happen by themselves. It's impossible. Here's my point. Creation is absolute proof that there is a Creator. You cannot have a creation without a Creator. It is impossible ("Then who then made God?" has a logical answer). End of argument; unless, according to the Bible, you are a fool (read Psalm 14:1 and Romans 1:20). Watch now people on this blog disagree with such basic logic. Then, you try and objectively analyze why they would do such a thing. If you do that, what they say will strengthen your faith in God. To address your other question--do I struggle with doubt? Never. I would never for a moment doubt the existence of God, because of the evidence of creation. I would never doubt the reality of God, because, in a moment of time, He transformed my life. And I would never doubt the character of God because I trust His integrity implicitly. The Bible says that if you doubt God, you call Him a liar (see 1 John 5:10). If I doubt you when you tell me something, it’s an insult to your integrity. It means I think that you are a liar. So, never doubt God. Trust Him with all your heart (see Proverbs 3:5).

The word “atheist” contains the word “God.” The poor folks can’t get away from God. The Bible says, "In Him we live and have our being." They are like fish in a large ocean, saying that there’s no proof the ocean exists.

Beaten by an Ex-cop

I was badly beaten recently by a retired police officer from the LA County Sheriff’s Department. I fought back with everything I had, but it was no use. The man was overpowering. I never thought that it would happen to me. He had the muscle to beat people, and that's what he was doing to me. It was like a nightmare. He wanted to take me down, and so he relentlessly pulverized me, hitting again and again. He struck with his right hand, then before I could recover, his backhand came at me. My heart pounded and sweat poured from my brow. The beating was so painfully bruising it will be some time before I recover. How I hate losing at ping pong, but Tony’s more than 20 years as a police officer had instilled in him a disciplined mind and quick reflexes. Most men have a similar competitive nature. We don’t like to lose. That hard-headedness isn't so common in women, but I did speak to one young lady who said that she feared being a loser more than she feared dying. Maybe you are the same. You would hate to be called a “loser.” If that's true, read these words very slowly: “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” You can't get to be a bigger loser than that. We are talking about your life, and we are talking about eternity. So stop resisting. There’s no way you are going to win your battle against God, so give up the fight, and come over to the winning side.

What is Evil?

After my manager and I had dinner with a group of atheists, a number of other atheists showed surprise that it was considered brave of us to enter into a “den of lions.” The inference was, “Do you think that we are evil?” Well let’s do a little test to see if you are. We will call it “The Evil Test.” To do it we need a “standard” to see if the test has been passed. Without a standard, the test is irrelevant. We will use atheistic morality—a "nothing is absolutely right or absolutely wrong" standard. Question # 1: Is it evil to kill a baby in the womb? Answer: The consensus is that they are not “human,” so the answer is “No. It is not evil. It is a woman's right.” 2. Is it evil to say that there is no God? Answer: “There is no proof of God’s existence, so of course it’s not evil to say that God doesn’t exit. The thought is ridiculous.” 3. Is it evil to hate someone? Answer: “No it's not.” 4. Is it evil to look at pornography? Answer: “Definitely not. It’s not hurting anyone, so how can it be evil? That’s ridiculous. Who is to say what right and what’s wrong? Answer: Of course it’s not evil.” So the atheist passes the test with flying colors, because he judges himself by his own moral standard. However, his “Who is to say what’s right and what’s wrong?” is telling. When we ask the same questions using the absolute unchanging morality of God’s Law (which tells us what’s right and what’s wrong), there is a completely different outcome. The Bible says that even if I don’t advocate abortion and atheism, or don't hate anyone or look at porn, my heart isn’t just “evil,” it’s “desperately wicked” (see Jeremiah 17:9-10). When we are as the Bible says--a “law to ourselves,” we will never think that we are evil by nature. But if we have an honest look at ourselves under the light of God’s unchanging Law, we will find that His testimony is true, as will be seen on Judgment Day.

The Difficulty with Faith

I sat next to a man in a plane, whose job was to purchase land for a well-known handyman chain. Part of this was to count houses in potential areas. He wasn’t interested in how many people lived in each house, because the store chain’s income came from purchases for the houses, not for people. He said supermarket chains were the opposite. They couldn’t care less how many houses were in an area, just people, because it’s people that eat food, not houses. He alone carried out the whole process of negotiating the price for the purchases, and had been doing that same job for 30 years. He agreed with me when I said that he was in a position of great “trust.” Much of what we do in life has its foundation on trust. We trust our dentist when he drills, our taxi driver when he drives, our pilots when they fly us. We trust our history books, our teachers, and some still even trust politicians. Marriage is a trust relationship. So is a business partnership and friendships. We trust elevators, planes, cars, brakes, chairs, doctors, surgeons, brokers and television anchors. This is why it’s hard to understand why skeptics mock the thought of trust in God. They think that a Christian is someone who “believes” in God’s existence. Rather, a Christian is someone who trusts God’s promises, trusts in His integrity and His incredible ability. When we speak of “faith” in Jesus, it’s not an intellectual assent. It’s an implicit trust in Him as our sin-bearer. So, never trust anyone who says that they find it difficult to have trust or "faith" in God. There’s nothing difficult about trust, when the One you are trusting is utterly trust-worthy.

A Small Prediction

I am not too good at predicting the future. I thought that there would be a bloodbath when Communist China took back Hong Kong some years ago. I was wrong. Most of us have been wrong with political predictions, baby sex predictions, etc., so I have learned to keep my mouth shut when it comes to the subject. Almost shut—because I have one small prediction to make about you, if you are a skeptic when it comes to Christianity. I will give you a short list of some of the prophecies of the Bible, then make my little prophecy. These were written 2,000 years ago, and are what are called “signs” of the end of the age. Here’s the list of what the New Testament says would take place just before the second coming of Jesus Christ: There would be an increase in wars and hostility between nations, homosexuality, knowledge, travel, earthquakes, famines, violence, and vegetarianism (1 Timothy 4:1-5. Note the word "creature" KJV). There would also be a breakdown of the institution of marriage, an empty and dead religious system, money-hungry preachers that would have many followers and slur the name of Christianity, a forsaking of the Ten Commandments ("Lawlessness"--Matthew 24:12), and mockery of a world-wide flood (2 Peter 3:3-6). Now here’s my prediction. If you are a skeptic, you will be saying “But these signs have always been around!” To be honest, your saying that, isn't my prediction. The Bible says that you would say it (2 Peter 3:4), and it even says why you are rebelling against the Word of God—because you are full of lust (how’s that for hitting the nail on the head?) The key to understanding the era in which we live is not to be ignorant of the fact that God dwells outside of the dimension of time, and that a day to Him is as a thousand years to us. Jesus said to keep your eye out for one "sign." When the Jews repossessed Jerusalem, that would bring all these signs into culmination. The Jews became a nation in 1948 and got Jerusalem in 1967. They found a homeland for the first time in 2,000 years. What are you waiting for? You had better make peace with God.

Good Will to All Men

Someone kindly sent me a $50 voucher to a well-known clothing chain. I was excited to see their selection because they were known for their trendy clothes. When I found a gap in my time, I went to the store, but became disillusioned within minutes. They were selling jeans and shirts that looked like they had just been rejected from a Good Will store. Everything was either ripped, tattered, holey, faded, torn, or wrinkled. The store’s clientele were vulnerable peer-driven teenagers, who have been made to feel cool while wearing rags. Advertisers must be smiling all the way to the bank. We sure are like sheep. I gave the voucher to a friend.