August 2017
True Truth + Excellent Evidences = Legitimate Liberty
(This is valid for countries as well as individuals.)
To follow up on our April theme of Many Infallible Proofs and to follow up on last month’s emphasis on love of truth plus love of country under the title, “Is It Important to Always Tell the Truth?”, I want to remind you that Jesus Himself said, “‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’… Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 8:31-32; 14:6 (NKJV)
It is obvious from the One who is truth as well as the source of truth, that true freedom is intricately interwoven with true truth (not fake news). Whoever declares that true freedom (either politically or individually) is the freedom to sin at will while rejecting God’s truth as stated in His Word is himself a liar.
Paul wrote to the Romans: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:1-4 (NKJV)
To the Galatians Paul wrote: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
Ravi Zacharias is a gifted teacher of philosophy, apologetics and theology, who has honed his skill of asking pertinent questions as well as stating profound concepts concisely. Recently I heard him say on a broadcast that the raging anger which atheists demonstrate in their rants against God you would never use against the tooth fairy! Their anger actually manifests the fact that they know He exists and they are mad about that!
Ravi even takes it as a compliment that Richard Dawkins rails against him. He commented: “Even though he claims not to believe God exists – at least he knows (acknowledges) that I exist.” When friends asked Ravi why he doesn’t answer Richard Dawkins’ accusations against him, he replied with a quote from George MacDonald: “To give truth to him who seeks it not is only to give him more multiplied reasons for misinterpretations.”
Coherent or Incoherent?
One of Ravi Zacharias’ opponents stood after a lecture and asked, “Whoever said that it must be coherent?” (This was after Ravi said that the culture of a country is “the search for a coherent set of answers.”)
She also asked, “Isn’t that imposing western values on our multicultural society?” Since she was on a rant, Ravi let her wind down – then asked her, “Do you want my answer to your question to be coherent or incoherent?”
It is obvious, even to the casual observer, that America is a country embroiled in the conflict of cultural clashes – and all of western culture is in crisis. Psalm 33:12 says: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD… ” (NKJV). A good friend of ours wrote the following poem from her reflections on this verse, and gave us permission to share it with you.
Signs of the Times
by Jonnie Randall Bartlett
Formidable and daunting is Man’s
tenuous progression
down dark narrow corridors we know as time.
Desperate for meaning, feeling out of control,
We dance to the time of life’s dizzying rhyme.
Under the spell of only five senses,
Not comprehending what cannot be seen,
Searching for answers to all the wrong questions,
Seeing our visions, dreaming our dreams.
So many billboards of false advertising,
blocking the landscape, selling the lie,
while in the park, the innocent play ‘neath
prophecy’s silhouettes against blue sky.
Not understanding cause or effect,
or loss of freedoms we’ve held so dear.
As ancient Rome, do we stand on the brink?
Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.
Passion Conference
Good News about College Student Heart Hunger
“At Ravi’s first engagement in January, he spoke to 40,000 on truth at the Passion Conference in Atlanta. The audience was 18 to 24-year-olds who clearly desired to hear from the Lord; they represented over 1,680 colleges and universities from 51 countries and all 50 states in the U.S. In addition, people from over 145 countries watched the livestream.
After the event, one student wrote to Ravi on Instagram: ‘Thank you for coming…. Everyone was on the edge of their seat absorbing all God was teaching them through you.’ Another, a junior at Florida State University, said, ‘I appreciate that Ravi didn’t water anything down. He spoke the truth with authority and talked to college kids like we are adults. I’m especially grateful for Ravi’s explanation of how Jesus gives meaning to all of time. Without Jesus, my past is broken, my present is anxious, and my future seems daunting. But with Jesus, my past can be redeemed, my present has purpose, and my future has peace. God bridged time when He sent Jesus.’” (Regional Report, United States, www.rzim.org)
Potent Proofs Produce Passion
Rick Deighton
The Lemkes reported in their update about a survey of young people who had dropped out of church. When questioned about what it would take to draw them back to Christ/Christianity, the answer was most often “passion”. So Lemkes proposed the question, “If passion is the fruit, what is the root? Following is a copy of my reply. I believe the root is the deep, solid, unshakeable conviction that the gospel is true (absolute, solid historical fact). Why?
1. When Thomas, the ultimate skeptic, saw the evidence, he exclaimed, “My Lord – and my God!” Then he took the gospel to India and was willing to suffer for his faith.
2. Luke wrote in Acts 1:3 that Jesus showed Himself alive after his suffering by “many infallible proofs.”
3. The former persecutor became the passionate persuader after Jesus appeared to him. He is the one who wrote the passionate defense of the doctrine of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15! I like to ask skeptics to explain the conversion of Saul of Tarsus if Jesus did not rise from the dead.
4. Peter wrote: “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16 (NKJV)
5. John wrote: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:1-4 (NKJV)
What convinced Lew Wallace (author of Ben Hur), C.S. Lewis (the most reluctant convert in all England), Josh McDowell, Frank Morrison, Lee Strobel, Sergei Golovin, A.N. Wilson, and several other former evolutionists, skeptics, atheists and agnostics (myself included)? Evidence! Solid, unshakeable evidence! So if you happen to get the impression that I’m passionate about proofs – you got it! As Sergeant Friday repeatedly said: “Give us the facts, Ma’am, just the facts!” Potent proofs produce passion!
So What Are We To Do About the Many Infallible Proofs?
1. Jesus said: ” ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
2. Peter wrote: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” 1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV) Let’s go for it!
Monstrous Problems – Awesome God
This overview of the book of Job is one of my favorite lessons – and I can honestly say that I have a passion about presenting it because it is pertinent and potent to hurting hearts. We had wonderful feedback about it during the Question and Answer time at Apologetics Forum in Arlington, Washington on Friday evening, July 28. It was filmed and is now available to you on YouTube through Apologetics Forum.
The Apologetics Forum of Snohomish County (AFSC) helps equip Christians in the defense of The Faith in the postmodern world in three related areas: 1) Creation vs. Evolution, 2) Christian Apologetics, and 3) Biblical Worldview. AFSC provides a local Forum for lectures and DVD programs by knowledgeable presenters on these topics. More on AFSC at ApologeticsForum.org
You can find the links at the bottom of this web page under the heading Lecture recordings at: and check it all out. This includes links to the audio and video recordings and your PPT slides.
From Our Mailbox
These first two letters are reflections on our prayer letters:
“Greetings and best wishes from your 90 year old Christian sister in Florida. I do so appreciate your monthly newssheet and encourager issue each month. Thanks a bunch!!
I re-print many of the articles, poems, etc. to share with others. Now I would like to read your book, Is the Bible Without Any Errors? as I do read some discrepancies which I have always thought due to the fact the authors (writers) were different people and none of them matter in doctrinal matters….
God is so good and as you say ‘awesome,’ and has blessed me with my daily strength and sound mind at my age. He is my joy, peace and hope, praising His name daily. I feel a kindred spirit with you both from your monthly issue. Please use this check wherever the need is greatest.
Praising Him, Claudia Boldon”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Just read your wonderful letter. Thanks for all you said. Right on brother.
May I use your content for a future blog and radio show? I liked your two needs lists. And thanks for the reminder about telling the truth. That’s exactly what our society is dealing with. Too many Christians who cave-in to compromising theology, history and science need to be jolted about the need to tell the truth. Imagine if they heard Jesus tell them what he told the pious Pharisees. The reason they don’t listen to the words of Truth (Jesus) is because they are not of God and they ARE from their true father the Devil. What a hot potato that would be to throw any audience. Jesus wasn’t trying to be popular or politically correct. Neither should we be, while still being sweet and winsome with conviction and courage.
Blessings to you, Rick.
Dennis” (Petersen)
This next letter is from Rob Browne to help you understand the plight of orphans in Ukraine – and other former Soviet Union Nations. Youth Reach, International, Love Cradle, International, and the S. family orphanage are three ministries we have partnered with to help reach orphans and others.
“Friends,
I listened to a daily podcast by a consumer rights/deal-finding guru named Clark Howard. Those of us long-time Atlanta folks know him well. A few weeks ago he mentioned something that the EU has put into law which is actually seen as a good thing to many. It’s a law called ‘The Right to be Forgotten.’ It sounds a bit ominous at first until you learn what it’s about. It is a ruling that allows Europeans who felt they were being misrepresented by search results that were no longer accurate or relevant – for instance, information about old financial matters, or misdeeds committed as a minor – to ask search engines like Google to delink the material. Basically, it’s a way to let your non-relevant past no longer be held against you.
The Right To Be Forgotten might be one thing admirable in this situation but in our ministry at YouthReach International we deal with this much more often: The Reality Of Being Forgotten. It’s not hard to see where I am going here. Birth parents, for a myriad of reasons, have forgotten their children. Institutionalization is the result. Society has forgotten its orphans. Separation from their nation is the result. Education has forgotten its orphans. Imprisonment and addiction are the results. In many cases, the institutions of society (government, religious, athletic, and social) have forgotten their orphans. Hopelessness is the result.
Let’s stop right there. Hopelessness is something we have the answer for and can deliver the gift of. We know the Author and Perfecter of our faith is the ultimate source of hope and we know that He has a heart for and an instrument to respond to the fatherless. His heart is shown in Jesus Christ given freely, without hesitation or condition, to us – the orphaned – so we can be ‘familied’ with him again. The instrument to respond to orphans is the church. There’s no back-up plan or institution God will use for this purpose. That’s a core conviction that YouthReach International has which has been confirmed time and time again. It drives us to position ourselves right where we do in our ministry model. We work intentionally and tirelessly with the local church to build response models (educational, medical, financial and relational) to bring hope where there has been no hope.
The right to be forgotten might be well and good for a citizen of the EU who voluntarily asks a search engine to leave them out of their findings but it will never be something a parentless child ever longs for. It’ll also be something that we at YouthReach International work tirelessly to see never happen – orphans being forgotten. To that end, we are committed….”
Rob Browne
Chief Encourager,
Executive Director
rob@youthreach.org”
Knowing When to Kneel
“Prayer is the key which unlocks the door of God’s treasure house. It is not
too much to say that all real growth in the spiritual life – all victory over temptation, all confidence and peace in the presence of difficulties and dangers, all repose of spirit in times of great disappointment or loss, all
habitual communion with God – depend upon the practice of secret prayer.”
– An unknown Christian, THE KNEELING CHRISTIAN
“You will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12
Response to “Got Love?” Editorial
I always take plenty of good reading material with me when I travel – and sometimes send responses to what I have read. Last September while in Ukraine, I wrote a response to Karla Dial, editor of “Citizen” Magazine, published by Focus on the Family. She published my letter in the December issue in the “Letters to the Editor” section. I’ve decided to share it with you because of the shining example of New Hope Church.
“I fully agree with Tom Watson – you certainly had “A Word in Season” concerning “Winds of Change,” but the title also belongs to your September article, “Got Love?” Just before reading your article, I finished reading the September issue of Voice of the Martyrs and was tremendously inspired by the examples of brothers and sisters in Christ in Nigeria, who have been mutilated and left for dead or whose loved ones have been brutally slaughtered by Boko Haram. They have applied Jesus’ Word of truth about loving and forgiving their enemies – and they are teaching their children to do the same. They are also teaching them to pray for the conversion of their enemies – and are staying in dangerous areas in order to share the gospel with those who hate them and are intent on murdering them. Then I opened “Citizen” magazine for September and read your question, “Got Love?” They have it! It’s time for us as believers to examine our hearts with your question.
I am in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on a mission trip, and on Sunday, September 25, I preached at the international church named ‘New Hope’ and then led those who stayed for my seminar through the subject, “Why Never to be Intimidated by Evolutionism.” The title of the sermon before the seminar was, “My Awesome God!” – which emphasizes some of the same points you did in “Winds of Change.” Since many of the brilliant international students are from African countries, I was one of the few “pale faces” in the assembly. There was no color conflict between us and no question about whether “black lives matter” – or whether other human lives matter. Why not? Because we were focusing on our Awesome God and His teaching about Biblical worldview. There is only one race of men – the human race! God made of one blood all nations of men! We are all made in the image of God – not descended from ape-like creatures! Worldviews matter! If we continue to allow children to be indoctrinated with the propaganda that we are simply advanced animals – why be surprised if they act like animals!
‘Got love?’ Good question! New Hope Church in Kharkiv, Ukraine certainly does. I hope that you and all your readers get to visit that church some day. I believe you will be inspired and refreshed (even in the midst of the storm of hatred and confusion). You can check it out at:
www.facebook.com/groups/31377605740 – or – you can do a search: New Hope Church in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Their email address is: newhopechurchmedia@gmail.com .
Respectfully yours & His, Rick Deighton”
In the midst of our country’s hostile cultural conflicts that have gone from fake news and verbal abuse to violence and bloodshed in our streets and on our campuses, may we have the courage and wisdom to raise high the banner of His love above the vile and violent words and actions of our corrupted culture!
Viva Jesus’ love!
Prayer Requests
1. Please continue to pray for a qualified translator who can translate Ready to Give an Answer into Arabic. We have 2 possibilities.
2. Please pray for God to use the message, “Monstrous Problems – Awesome God” to reach multitudes of hurting people/needy souls through the YouTube presentation.
3. Please pray for hurting souls in Ukraine, Crimea and Russia to come home to Jesus. Pray for massive spiritual awakening!
4. We (the Board of Directors and Advisory Council of NWSM) are at a critical juncture. We have received the $2,500 start up fee for Semble as a direct answer to prayer, and we have $1,000 toward the earnest money for the building at an ideal location, but we need another $5,000 to complete the needed $6,000 earnest money. Please pray!
5. Please pray for American Family Association’s “In God We Trust” national motto campaign to help inspire and spark spiritual awakening in America.
6. Recently Sergei Golovin asked me, as author of “Millions of Miracles”, for permission to distribute the Ukrainian version in public libraries. Here is his reply about sharing the request: “Yes, brother, please spread the prayer request for the books to be placed to the national libraries. This is a great opportunity, but the decision will be made by the governmental clerks.”
Please pray!
7. Bob and Geri Boyd are planning to interview me on September 16 for their conservative radio broadcast, “Issues in Education”. Please pray for me to have wisdom and fluency of expression.