Remember Me, America

Remember Me, America

“Freedom is not free!”  This quotation is to remind us that although it may be free to us now – others paid the price (sometimes a terrible price).  So, not only on Memorial Day, Flag Day, and the 4^th of July should we celebrate our freedom and remember those who risked and sacrificed life and limbs for our freedom – but every day.  Especially, let’s remember that our freedom in Christ from the bondage of sin, death and hell was paid for by the precious blood of Jesus!  Can you hear Jesus say, “Remember Me, Christian”?

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)

“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:17-19 (NKJV)

Foolishness is Alive and Well on Planet Earth!

In 1970, Hal Lindsay’s multi-million best-seller, The Late Great Planet Earth hit the market, then in 1971 his follow-up book was Satan Is Alive and Well on Planet Earth. Reading about it again sparked the idea for this heading. When you hear or read that atheism is spreading like wildfire on social media, you can be sure that foolishness is alive and well on planet earth! How do I know that? First, because God revealed to us in His Word: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God!’” This is found twice – Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1 – and God knows that the Hebrews used repetition for emphasis. Second, Eric Metaxas’ book, Is Atheism Dead?, has about one-third dedicated to the foolish arguments of the new atheists, who have been using outrageous scorn and mockery as bluster to scare believers and doubters, when in reality their arguments are hollow sham lacking logic and substance. Truly, foolishness is alive and well on planet earth! (Mockery tells us more about the mocker than it does about who or what he is mocking.)

When you see, hear, or read that Bruce Jenner opposes so-called transgender men (who pose as women) participating in women’s sports – yet Bruce wants to be called Caitlyn and run for governor of California as a woman – you can know that foolishness is alive and well on planet earth!

When you hear that two young men, in a fit of road rage, shot and killed a six-year-old boy in the car ahead of them – you know that foolishness is alive and well on planet earth.

When you read or hear that our Marxist administration is pushing for and demanding an investigation of the “riot” in D.C. on January 6 – while ignoring the real rioting, looting, burning, beating and killing going on in Portland for over a year – you know that foolishness is alive and well in USA.

Question – what are you doing to curb the foolishness and speak the truth in love?

Now here is perhaps the toughest rub – it is an easily verifiable fact that God, in His Word, calls the sin of sodomy “abomination,” and connects it with the sexual impurity, perversion and shameful lusts that destroy society and bring the wrath of God down upon a corrupted culture. See Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:16-32. It is also easily verifiable that homosexuality is not an unforgivable sin and not an inborn trait that is impossible to change. Multitudes of former practicing homosexuals have repented and forsaken that sin-saturated lifestyle. See 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. It is also easily verifiable that the word “gay” as a description of the sin of sodomy is a politically loaded word that was chosen as a propaganda word by a group of homosexual activists at a conference in 1970, in order to change the perception of the nation (and the world) from negative to positive. Their propaganda word (meaning carefree and happy) has become so effective that now I even hear staunch conservatives and evangelical Christians using it thoughtlessly. They don’t think we can “speak the truth in love” without adopting the strategists propaganda word. Yes, foolishness is alive and well on planet earth!

Final Word

To keep this observation in balance, I want to also mention that in order to reach out to the victims of sinful habits with the gospel of truth and love, we never have license to call anyone harsh, crude names such as “you drunken bum!” or “you fag,” “you queer!” Every human being has been created in the image of God, and we want to approach him or her with the grace of our Lord to “rescue the perishing, care for the dying”! Let’s remember Paul’s inspired instructions: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV)

Finally, and importantly, let’s consider and obey Peter’s inspired instructions: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11 (NKJV)

“Standing Together as Christian Soldiers”

By Bob Russell

                “In Second Corinthians 10:3-5, the apostle Paul wrote, ‘For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.’ Please take note of four important principles taught in this passage:

                First, there is a vicious spiritual war going on, and the stakes are extremely high. The Bible makes it clear the conflicts we see on the surface are, in reality, a visible manifestation of a higher spiritual war between unseen forces. God seeks to grant salvation, joy and peace. Satan, His archenemy, comes to kill, steal, and destroy.

                Harvard Magazine recently published an article calling for the banning of homeschooling. The editors warned that parents are unfit to teach their own children, lest they pass on their bigoted religions. The Harvard elite are convinced Christians are unfit parents and want to pass laws which, if we violate them, would lose us parental custody. The same groups of leftists endorse taking grade-schoolers to Drag Queen Story Hour so that sex industry professionals can plant the seeds of gender dysphoria in their minds.

                That’s Satanic! The Bible says, ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’ (Ephesians 6:12).

                Second, Christ-followers are to be on the frontlines of the battle. Note the apostle Paul did not say, ‘Stay aloof from the conflict.’ Or, ‘Don’t offend the adversaries, or you’ll never win them to Jesus.’ No. He said, ‘We fight … we demolish … we take captive.’

                Many modern church leaders choose to disengage from the conflict lest they offend someone or appear too political or anti-intellectual. But Scripture doesn’t give us the option of that kind of pacifism. Ephesians 6:11, 13 reads, ‘Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes … so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.’

                Our forefathers in the faith understood the spiritual battle. They sang, ’Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war!’ and ‘Stand up, stand up for Jesus, you soldiers of the cross.’

                Third, our weaponry is markedly different than that of the world. ‘The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.’ The world fights with physical weapons that seek to destroy property and mutilate bodies. We fight with spiritual weapons that can heal the soul and save for eternity. The world fights with angry, hateful words that attempt to intimidate opponents. We fight with love and respect for others believing that God wants all to be saved. The world fights with lies and deceit, believing the end justifies the means. We fight with the truth of God’s Word, confident His truth will triumph in the end.

                When Paul urged Christians to put on the full armor of God, he mentioned only two offensive weapons, ‘Take … the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. And pray in the spirit on all occasions’ (Ephesians 6:17-18). The truth of the Bible and the power of prayer – those are our only weapons.

                Fourth, our weapons are powerful, but they must be used. God’s truth has ‘divine power to demolish strongholds.’ Satan backed off when Jesus quoted Scripture. The Bible has awesome power. Hebrews 4:12 assures us, ‘For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’

                Christians commonly make one of two mistakes. Some advocate fighting just as the world fights. They get furious and want to counter with louder shouts, cruder language, more powerful guns. When that happens, Satan gets two victories. The other mistake is to be intimidated into silence. The world scoffs when the Bible is quoted. Since no one likes to be ridiculed, we are tempted to say nothing when contentious subjects arise. Jesus said, ‘Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels’ (Luke 9:26).

                General Gideon faced an army of more than 100,000 well-equipped Midianite soldiers. But God pared Gideon’s army down to just 300 loyal troops. Then He armed them with clay jars, torches, and a few trumpets. How pitiful that must have appeared! Their weapons seemed totally inept against the enemy’s swords, spears, daggers, bows, and arrows. But those 300 Hebrews quietly surrounded the Midianite camp one night, broke the clay jars exposing 300 blazing torches, blew their trumpets, and shouted as loudly as they could, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’ The sleeping, half-drunk enemy camp concluded they were surrounded by a massive army and panicked and fled in fear.

                When we obey God’s commands and boldly proclaim God’s truth, miraculous things happen. But we can’t cower in fear on the sidelines. We can’t be silent and allow falsehood to go unchallenged. The truth is to be spoken in love, but the truth must be spoken. Have confidence in the power of God’s Word! At every opportunity, share what the Bible says about creation, the family, the sanctity of life, the spiritual foundation of a country, the divine nature of the church, God’s love for all races, and His desire that we all be saved and unified in Him.” (Quoted by permission from the Winter issue of One Body magazine.)

Remember to Focus on a Positive Example

Dr. Guliuzza,

Thank you very much for your strong, clear, bold stand for truth and righteousness as expressed in everything I’ve read and heard from you – but now especially for the outstanding article, “Refusing to Live by Lies,” in the May issue of Acts & Facts. I’m honored to be able to partner with you and all ICR staff (even on a small scale – by distributing extra copies of Acts & Facts to friends, family, churches and businesses). I appreciate you and pray for Almighty God to continue to bless ICR, as well as continuing to multiply the influence and outreach!

May the resurrected Lord Jesus be always your joy, your hope, your comfort, your strength and victory! May you come to know Him deeper, love Him dearer and follow Him nearer!

From Our Mailbox

Here is a letter from prison that came several years ago about Ready to Give an Answer in Russian:

“Dear Rick, I am glad to pass you greetings from Oleg Vasiur – a leader of prison ministry at Dobraya Pristan (Good Harbor/Haven) church. They mainly focused on those who serve a life sentence, and have baptized several guys recently. They highly appreciate opportunity to share your book at jails. Here is a feedback they received recently:

‘May our Lord Jesus bless you with His grace, peace and goodness! I would like to begin my message with thanking you and brothers and sisters in Christ for participating at RECONCILIATION project that was taking place all around Ukraine in life-term prisons. I enjoyed the books that I received very much. They correspond to my beliefs and the Bible fully, praised be the Lord! I am very excited to work with the book Ready to Give an Answer by Rick Deighton. While reading I have to go back many times and read over to make sure I do not miss important explanations. What I like the most is the questions listed at the end of each chapter, which help the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the subject.’ Pavel Bolshov, Temnovka high security prison, Kharkiv.

Yours by the grace of Jesus, Sergei” (Golovin)

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“The pandemic can’t stop everything. Books keep working.”

Now here is Inga’s translation of a recent letter from Lena Schalbetsky:

“Today (19 May) would have been our Mom’s Anniversary. I want to share about her life journey. As a teenager she babysat all children in the neighborhood. At the age of 16 she met our dad and after four years of dating they got married. Then I was born and five years later they had my sister Ira.

Several years later, mom read about an abandoned boy with a cleft lip in a newspaper Family. They booked a flight, got on board and flew over there. They even arranged that he would have a surgery in Kiev but were not able to process guardianship nor adopt him. When they returned home, they consulted an adoption inspector and in 1991 they began the life-long journey called Committed to Child-rearing.

Their passion for children did not resonate with their relatives. Why adopt or foster children when you have your own?! Initially they took a boy Ilya, then three biological siblings (Yana, Lena, and Zhenya), then another boy Fedya, another girl Alisa, another girl Sasha (these were the first generation of children they raised). Then there were two more boys Lyosha and Fedya, two girls Vika and Liza, biological brother and sister Kolya and Olya, two girls Anya and Nastya and four 6-month baby girls (all placed in their care around the same time) – Alya, Natasha, Nastyona and Masha – all about 16 inches and 3.3 pounds. Total they raised 20 children, not counting about 30 children who regularly spent their vacations in our home. Not a single healthy child, all with multitude of ills (diagnosed with infantile cerebral palsy, squinting, fetal alcohol syndrome and a galore of other disorders and defects…). They went through different times, financial and emotional challenges (many people did not understand why?) When someone asked me at the age of 10, ‘Lena, do you want to have a big family?’, I naively responded, ‘Of course’, not understanding the huge responsibility of rearing so many children.

One time somebody invited my parents to the church, and it was mom’s voice that weighed the scale (dad objected but it was impossible to resist her). From then on not only our family started to attend the church, but Ira and I both became active in ministry (worship, VBS, Sunday school, dance, theatre, youth ministry, summer camps). Because of mom’s decision all children were in the church. Because of her I know God, I’m married to a Christian man and I have Christian children. Because of her I became who I am, and I am thankful and honored that I have such a mother. I still cannot understand why she, who had completely devoted herself to serving children, had a strong will power, was always willing to come to help anyone, my mom and my best friend, had to go through what she went through. In spite of all medical predictions (from a week to a month), she lived with us for almost four more years, never complaining and bearing all trials in a worthy manner. Praise God that she is with Him now; this thought is my sole consolation. Rationally I understand everything, but my heart is breaking because she is not by our side…

As I look around, I see the fruits of her life. When somebody asked my mom what she would do differently if she had a chance to change her life, she responded that she would begin adopting children much earlier… Without dad she wouldn’t have been able to do so much. Thank you so much for everything, Mom! Love you dearly…

P.S. This year mom and dad would have celebrated 30-year anniversary of their ministry to children and 40-year anniversary of marriage.

Lena Shalbetsky”

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Next, here are three more messages from our “Barnabas,” Ken Morris. (Ken preaches for Tunas Christian Church, which holds a special spot in our hearts because that is where I also preached years ago when we were students at Ozark Bible College.)

“Rick, I was thankful to receive your card and note along with the CDs of the three sermons yesterday. And you certainly spoke rightly concerning your minister-preacher-evangelist Steven Crane. He is indeed a most capable proclaimer of the Word of my Lord God. And so, from time to time – or as often as you can – I would appreciate other sermons. I know that you said that I need not be concerned about payment. But I have enclosed an additional amount with my monthly support to help with the cost. Thank you for your kindness. This comes with daily prayers for you and Della and the ministry. May my Dear Lord Jesus bless you both.  Ken”

“Rick, thank you very much for once again sending recordings of sermons and other messages. I do appreciate listening to each of those – and I especially appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness. I really do hope that this finds both you and Della well physically and daily experiencing the nearness and the blessings of my Dear, Dear Lord Jesus. This comes with my daily prayers for you and the ministry.  Ken”

“Rick, since I am still a relative newcomer to the total scope of the ministry of Overseas Outreach – and especially the work in the Ukraine – this most recent monthly update was the more amazing to me. Certainly I have witnessed – and have personally experienced – God’s amazing working – and His down to the minute timing – over the years. But the reports from Brother Golovin of how my Dear Lord has continued to be marvelously at work in those areas even – maybe especially – in the midst of political-government-military upheavals – and all the virus restrictions – are nothing short of awe inspiring. What a Great and Mighty and truly Awesome God He is! And how evident the words of Lord Jesus – ‘I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it…’ Thank you for including those reports. May my Beloved Lord continue to bless you and Della and the ministry.  Ken Morris”

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“Hello Rick – Thank you so much for your quick response to the urgent need of KCC. Your gift will help KCC to rebuild its facilities much faster! May God richly bless you for your caring heart!

Valentin Siniy of behalf of KCC people (KCC = Kherson Christian Church)

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You may recall that in our June prayer letter we shared two recent messages from Sergei Golovin. The second one was the amazing account concerning the sale of the training building in Crimea and the purchase of the building in Kiev for the Eurasian Apologetics Center. I wrote to him asking how much is needed for the internal remodel. Here is his reply on 6-22-21:

“Dear Rick, thank you so much for your care!

1. The estimate of the need is following:

The interior renovation – $85.000

Furniture and appliances – $25.000

We would highly appreciate any help with any part of these sums2.

2. So far we got a gift of $6.000

3. Yes, the gift mentioned above allowed us to start with the remodeling – we are doing electrical work.

4. Yes, we would like to live in the living quarters of the Apologetics Center. We hope to move there by winter and not pay a rent anymore for the apartment we stay at currently.

5.We highly appreciate your intention to help! The only idea we have is to pray and asking others to pray and share the prayer request expecting somebody’s hearts will be touched.

6. The person at the picture is Ruslan Habibrakhmanov – a young faithful man of the Lord I am trying mentor in the way Georges and you are mentoring me. He is a displaced person who fled from the war zone of Donbas six years ago. During that time, he became an elder at Dobraya Pristan (Good Haven) church. After Yury, the senior elder, emigrated to U.S., Ruslan was elected to this position. I am doing my best to guide, train and encourage him in that ministry. He works as a part time warehouse manager for Knigonosha Christian publishing ministry – the one we print our books at since we moved to Kiev.

May the Lord bless you in all your ways like you are blessing for many!

Yours by His grace, Sergei”

Peace, Joy and Victory in the Nasty Here and Now!

It is abundantly clear in Scripture that our Almighty God intends for Christians to live in peace, joy and victory, not only in the sweet by and by – but even in the nasty here and now! “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16; “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37; “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:14-17 (NKJV)

Prayer & Praise Requests

1. Recently at the post office, an older man held the door open for me as he was coming in and I was going out. I thanked him and gave him our flyer with an invitation to Eagle Christian Church and the question, “Are You Experiencing the Peace of God – No Matter What Your Circumstances Are?” He said, “Thank you – I need this!” As he turned toward me, I noticed that his face was flushed, and he looked distraught. I asked him, “How can I pray for you?” He choked up and said: “My little wife is dying!” He started to say something else, but his words stuck in his throat – and he turned to walk away. God knows who he is – will you join me in praying for him and his wife?
2. Praise God that “the pandemic can’t stop everything. Books keep working.” So do the Christian broadcasts!
3. Praise God for the Eurasian Apologetics Training Center in Kiev! Please also pray with us for God to provide the funds for the internal remodel.
4. Praise God that when the remodel is completed, Sergei & Olga Golovin and daughters will have their living quarters provided at the Apologetics Center – and will no longer have the expense of renting an apartment.
5. Praise God also that we can contribute a significant amount to the renovation (remodel) project due to a large donation to Overseas Outreach by one of my former lighting customers.
6. Let’s ask God to remind us to praise Him for His amazing plan for us while we are in the midst of our trials and cannot see our way out! “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:2-5 (NKJV)
7. Stan Lutz told me in a recent phone conversation that during the heavy storms along the Gulf Coast they also got drenching rain in west Texas. In fact, 3” of torrential rain in one night destroyed the roof of Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum in Crosbyton, TX, where Stan & Bonnie are working with Joe Taylor to launch the Creationist School of Paleontology. I asked Stan if they have an estimate of how much it will cost to replace the roof. Yes – $50,000! Also, one individual has put up a $25,000 matching grant. So please pray with us for the funds to come in – and if you dare, please ask, “Lord – what would You have me do?” Another good item of information Stan shared is that his grandson, Dakota, has definitely decided that he wants to devote his life to promoting Biblical creationism by coming to work with Stan and Joe. Praise God!
8. Please ask God to deliver Ukraine from Covid and Russia – and to deliver USA from being totally taken over by Marxism!

“Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.

It is totally inadequate to the government of any other.” ~ John Adams

To those who pray for our Overseas Outreach requests and give to support our outreach:  THANK YOU!

We thank God for you and appreciate deeply your faithful partnership. 

We are asking our Sovereign Lord to reward you richly!

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Because He Lives!

Rick & Della Deighton

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Remember Who is in Control!

Photos from Ukraine