July/August 2010
Dear Friends, Family and Prayer Partners,
We are living in amazing, appalling, confusing, yet exciting times. What a thrill to be alive, walking with the King of the Universe! (And when I die physically, I’ll just be walking closer to Him and awaiting my resurrection body!) The King is coming – and we may still be here to see it when He splits the heavens and descends in glory and power. Wow! He is our blessed Hope! He will set everything straight! Look up – our redemption is drawing near!
New Booklets
I am currently working on two new booklets I hope to soon get published in both English and Russian. One of the chapters for the first booklet is included here for your perusal. The title of the booklet will be Is God’s Word – The Bible – Without any Errors? The chapter I’ve decided to include with this newsletter is a slightly expanded version of an actual letter I sent to a questioning college student. Since some of you reading this letter may be leaving soon for college or university, and others will have relatives or friends who are going into the “lion’s den” of skeptical, critical, ruthless professors or students, please read this carefully and share it with others who need facts and faith-building reassurance. This is still rough draft format, so if you have any valid suggestions to offer, please let me know soon. Bruce Malone is excited about publishing the English version through his Search for the Truth Publications and distributing them widely in his meetings. The inerrancy of Scripture and accuracy of the Genesis foundation of history is vital to Biblical Christianity. The other booklet is another hot topic – Baptism in Spirit – in Water – in Fire. It is a potent condensation of a huge manuscript I wrote years ago. If you want to review it for me, ask for a free copy.
Fall Mission Trip
I am still trying to firm up my itinerary, but our Lord willing, I plan to leave for Ukraine September 27 and return home near the end of October. I plan to share the itinerary in our September letter.
Northwest Science Museum and Ica Stones
We have exciting news. NWSM has received donations to purchase, through Dennis Swift’s help and contacts, the largest supply of Ica Stones available anywhere in the USA. Now there is a team in Peru gathering information on other stones. Have you never heard of Ica Stones? They are authentic, ancient pre-Columbian (pre-Hispanic) stones from graves near Ica, Peru, with carvings showing men and dinosaurs together (plus the high technology of these ancient people). This fits perfectly with a Biblical worldview, but is anathema to evolutionism because the evolutionists contend that dinosaurs died out sixty five million years before man evolved and that ancient people were undeveloped cavemen. They would love to ignore or discredit such findings. Dennis Swift’s extensive research shows that although there were some fake “Ica Stones” produced, the bulk of the Ica Stones are authentic and easily distinguished from the fakes. If you would like a copy of Dennis’ fascinating book, Secrets of the Ica Stones and Nazca Lines, let us know.
Please Pray Earnestly!
We already have fascinating fossils and displays stockpiled in storage waiting to show the world, yet we feel this project is bottlenecked until we have a building to display the truth and accuracy of the Word of God. We have not yet received any reply from the executives of Sam’s Club about donating their vacated building near the Idaho Center to NWSM, but Doug Bennett, our executive director, now has the name and phone number of their CEO, and is trying to get in touch with him. Please pray! If possible, please help by giving or working with us.
Northwest Science Museum Mission Statement
The Museum is devoted to understanding and explaining origins, history and our present world as revealed by scientific discovery. We believe that these discoveries interpreted through the worldview of Biblical historical accounting yield a much better explanation to our origins and history of the earth, solar system and universe than the alternative evolutionary view.
This approach will lead people to a better understanding of God by examining His creation. It will also show that creation science can explain the evidence we see in the world around us and that it is not just religion. Evolutionism is a vital doctrine of the religion of Humanism (as recognized by the U.S. Government), therefore is just as religious as creationism. They are opposite and competing worldviews, so we want to show where scientific evidence points us.
This approach will strengthen the visitor’s faith in God and the Bible. It will give visitors the information they need to trust the Bible and what it says about the creation of the universe. So that they will know that “In the beginning, God created….” Genesis 1:1
One of the basic goals of the Museum is to distribute the abundance of scientific evidence that confirms the Biblical account of creation and young earth history. This goal makes available the resources necessary for an individual to continue to study Creation Science on his own so that he will be well versed and can give an answer to anyone who asks about creation.
From Our Mailbox
“To Rick & Della;
A note of encouragement: Your dedication to witness and encourage, and minister to the people of Ukraine is much appreciated. We see the sacrifice that each of you make. We pray God’s blessing.
Sincere Agape love,
The Jensens”
“Dear Rick & Della;
The more leaders you teach the farther the Message of Christ will travel, even places you couldn’t get to. The notes you receive from ministers you work with tell of the success they have even after you come home. I think you have made a wise choice.
We are all concerned about Della’s health. Hopefully this will lighten her load some.
Although I am not going to pledge a certain amount on a designated time, we will still continue to support your work when ever possible.
Keep looking UP.
Sincerely,
Russ & Glenna”
MEMORIAL GIFT
In Memory of Evelyn V. Snow
Received from W. Harold Snow
Chapter 3
An Open Letter to a College Student struggling with doubts about God, the Bible, Christ, and Christianity
Dear “Mike”, (His name is changed to protect his identity)
The Bible tells us to “test everything – hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22. God encourages us to check things out – to test them, but He also tells us to avoid every kind of evil. I’m writing this to commend you for wanting to test everything – but to warn you that the writings of the Buddhist critic of the Bible are not the writings of an honest skeptic. They are evil, wicked, dishonest distortions of the Bible and Christian writers. I’ll give you a couple of examples to show you what I mean, but first I want to point out that this wicked author is willingly ignorant and intentionally distorting truth. Besides, what does Buddhism have to offer? It is a hopeless, skeptical, atheistic philosophy. It is empty – devoid of meaning and joy.
Why do I say that the author is willingly ignorant? Because he parades himself as a philosophical and Biblical scholar, yet ignores the fact that every good Christian apologist has already thoroughly answered and demolished his infantile arguments.
Have you read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis? More than a Conqueror by Josh McDowell? The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel? All of these were atheists or agnostics who were converted by the powerful evidence for Christ and the accuracy of the Bible when they did the research. I was also once an atheist, but God captured my heart by a dramatic answer to prayer and turned me around. I am so thankful for that. Ready to Give an Answer is my book. Did we send you a copy? Other outstanding books are A Closer Look at the Evidence, Censored Science and Search for the Truth. Will you read these if we send you copies? I also want to highly recommend that you read the article, “Tackling Charges of Biblical Inconsistency” by James J. S. Johnson in the July issue of Acts & Facts. In fact, I even more highly recommend that you subscribe to this outstanding magazine. (Institute for Creation Research, P.O. Box 59029, Dallas, TX 75229, 214-615-8300, www.icr.org)
I’ve had a lot of experience answering critics and skeptics on college and university campuses, as well as at “Man and the Christian Worldview” symposiums attended by many Ph.D. professors, scientists and philosophers. Sometimes I write to an author to try to engage him, but I will not try to contact the Buddhist author because he has demonstrated to me by his writings that he is a dishonest mocker. The Word of God says, “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” Proverbs 9:7-9 (NIV)
Mike, if you are sincerely searching for truth, you won’t find it in the writings of the Buddhist mocker – so why waste your time? The only reason I can see why you would choose to continue to read his writings (or those of blatant atheists like Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins) is if you are looking for excuses not to believe in God or His Word because you don’t want to repent. Mike, what are you looking for? Are you willing to pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”? Psalm 139:23-24
Now I’ll give you a couple of examples of the Buddhist author’s distortions. He often uses the “straw man” tactic, which is to distort an argument of Christians and set up this distorted “straw man” then cut it down and tear it apart. Then he crows over his triumph – when in reality he hasn’t dealt with the real issue at all. Here is an example:
He wrote, “Christians will sometimes say that everything has a cause…” False! False! False! Christian apologists point out that it is a scientific law that every effect must have an adequate cause. This makes a huge difference because God is NOT an effect – He is the cause! He is the first cause.
He also wrote, “This old argument contains its own refutation, for if everything has a first cause, then the first cause must also have a cause.” This argumentation is so weak it is ridiculous, because he continues to build on the fallacy of “everything” instead of the true argument “every effect”, plus he commits the logical fallacy of saying that the first cause must also have a cause. If it is the first cause it cannot also have a cause! If it did, it wouldn’t be the first cause. Duh!!!
Sometimes a small child will ask the question, “Who made God?” – which only reveals the child’s ignorance about the definition of who God is. God is the eternal, almighty Creator of everything and everybody. If someone made God, He wouldn’t be God. The one who made him would be God. But then the child could ask, “Who made that God?” Such questioning could go on forever. That would be infinite regression – another logical fallacy.
The cynical critic ridicules the Song of Solomon as worthless erotic poetry. Actually, he is just too dense in his cynicism to recognize it as a beautiful love poem which celebrates marriage and harmonizes perfectly with other portions of Scripture which warn against immorality. See Proverbs chapters 5 through 7, and 1 Corinthians chapter 7. Proverbs 18:22 says, “Whoso finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the Lord.” Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Marriage is God’s invention and plan for male-female sexual satisfaction and fulfillment emotionally as well as physically. It was God Himself who created them male and female and designed one man for one woman for life as the basic unit of family and society. Family, faithfulness, fidelity and friendship for life are all part of His beautiful plan. Della and I are still enjoying the richness of His plan after all these years. The “Song of Songs” is also a beautiful picture of the intimate love and sacrifice of Christ for His bride, the church.
Biblical Christianity (with the possible exception of Orthodox Judaism which accepts the Old Testament as true history) is the only worldview which has a logical consistent explanation for the existence of evil. Many people blame God – ignoring the fact that He created everything perfect and peaceful and put human beings in a beautiful garden in the beginning. Now we live on a cursed earth full of evil, heartache and suffering because of man’s rebellion against God!
Do you understand why I say he uses infantile arguments? Do you want a man like this to be your mentor? Why not look to your father’s godly example and choose him as your mentor?
Mike, please openly and honestly consider what the apostle Paul wrote: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Romans 1:16-20 (NIV)
Do you want the apostle Paul (a converted skeptic with a powerful intellect) to be your mentor – or do you want wicked fools who are without excuse to be your mentors? By the way, why don’t you ask those wicked fools to logically explain why Saul of Tarsus, the passionate persecutor of Christians, was converted and became the most motivated missionary of the first century (perhaps of all time – except for Jesus Himself)? How do they explain that? They don’t! They ignore it! But it is solid historical fact. How do you explain it?
Do you think I am too harsh in my evaluation of the Buddhist critic and the other blatant atheists I mentioned? Please consider what God says: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.” Psalm 14:1; 53:1. Besides, the Word says, “The fool has said in his heart there is no God” and these guys blab it right out loud and put it in print. Proverbs 15:1 says, “…the mouth of fools pours out foolishness”! I was also one of these wicked fools who blabbed it out loud. I am so thankful God convicted me of my sin and drew me out of that web of wickedness.
Did you notice that the last part of the verse says, “…there is none that does good”? This destroys the humanistic doctrine that mankind is basically good by nature. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…” Do you know that the rejection of God, His Word, and His Son is a moral issue (often covered up with an intellectual smokescreen)? The root of the problem is not intellectual (concerning our unanswered questions, etc.). Please consider John 3:16 in its context! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:16-21 (KJV) The basic fact is that either you will repent and allow the Holy Spirit to shape your desires to the truth, or you will reject the truth and warp God’s Word to fit your desires. Which will it be? “Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow…” Isaiah 1:18
Do you know who Simon Greenleaf was? He was the head of the law department at Harvard and the professor who wrote a three volume set on how to gather and evaluate evidence. His set became the world-wide standard for training lawyers and judges. He was the man who knew more about how to evaluate evidence than any other individual. One day in the early 1800’s a student asked him, “Professor Greenleaf, do you believe Jesus Christ arose from the dead?” Because he was raised in a Jewish home where he was constantly told that Jesus was an imposter who was not the Messiah and did not rise from the dead, he said, “No.” Then the student had the audacity to ask, “Professor – have you examined the evidence?” This left him embarrassed before the entire class because he had often told his students, “Never make any important decision without examining the evidence.” Simon Greenleaf began an intense study of the evidence originally to prove he was right, but was converted to Christ by the overpowering evidence. He wrote a book on the evidence for the resurrection of Christ and said that any honest jury would have to say that Jesus Christ arose from the dead. He also wrote that the four evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were totally accurate in all their historical references and that their writings are valid historical documents. If you look up Simon Greenleaf on the internet, you can read for yourself what he wrote about the four gospel writers. It’s hard to wade through because of the technical terms and verbiage style of the 1800’s, but I’ve done it. His testimony is powerful – and irrefutable!
The question is, What will you do with this evidence? With Jesus? Today He is our Savior. One day He will be our judge. Do you want Him as your Savior – both now and then? He has left the choice with you. I hope you choose wisely.
“To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 24-25
Yours & His,
Rick
Potent Quotations
“We have two ends with a common link: with one we sit – with one we think
And success depends on which we choose – Heads – we win! Tails – we lose!”
“It is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail!”