December 1999 Personal Letter

Dear Friends,

Well, as far as Israel is concerned, the news is so-so. Because of the American election and the various shootings around the country, the entertainers we call news reporters have turned their attention to the home front. That’s all to the good for the Holy Land.

The news media should be criticized for their reportage on the King David Stone. Would you believe that an October issue of US News and World Report has finally caught up to this issue on which we made an entire series in 1994? This vitally important archeological find, a stone carved with writing from the 8th century BC, which establishes King David as a real person and his dynasty as a real succession of kings, should have been world news from its first day. Other than the Dead Sea Scrolls, it was probably the Biblical archeological find of the century. Please see our series on the “House of David” Stone.

And the media can be faulted for emphasizing this “safe passage” for the Palestinians. As I remarked in the past newsletter, Palestinians have always been safe in Israel. Indeed, they had to show identity cards at roadcheck points, but that was because some of them are terrorists. Canadians don’t have to show identity cards when they cross our borders, because they are not a threat to us. But, in any case, few Palestinians have ever been unsafe in Israel, and as I pointed out, it is the Israelis who are unsafe because of the Palestinian terrorism.

The sad death of Payne Stewart, the PGA golf champion whose plane crashed in October, provided a wonderful testimony for correct Christian doctrine. Paul said, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55), and Christians should not rightly grieve at a Christian funeral. Indeed, we are sad because we will miss the company of the one who has gone on ahead of us to the Lord, but we rejoice in the fact that his salvation is secure and that we will all be together again. Payne Stewart was a committed believer, and it was said at his eulogy that he was now traveling “from the world of the dying to the world of the living” rather than the other way around. I was thrilled with that characterization of a fine Christian and a fine golfer.

And speaking of the world of the dying, the dictator of Egypt has been elected to still another six-year term in office. No one ran against him in this “election,” so that his victory was 100 percent to zero. Now, why do Arabs have elections like this? Well, I suppose some American official in the past said, “If you can’t be democracies, you can at least appear to be by holding elections.” The dictators then decided that was a good idea, but it is chancy to give the voters any alternative, so they simply run alone. Assad, the bloodthirsty dictator of Syria, won by above 99 percent of the vote (some gutsy dissenters simply write in another candidate, do or die—and they subsequently die), and Saddam Hussein won by a similar margin in Iraq. When we accuse them of being totalitarian states, they answer, “What do you mean? We just had an election.” The Soviet Union used to do the same thing.

Frankly, I prefer American elections even when they become ridiculous. At least, when you have Warren Beatty and Jessie Ventura and Donald Trump preening like a pack of baboons, there is at least some competition. But then, if Pat Buchanan ran unopposed, I think he would still lose, and well and good.

I happened to have a speaking engagement in Laramie, Wyoming, recently, where the “gay killing” trial is recently concluded. One of the deacons at the church where I was speaking was an attorney knowledgeable of the young men involved, and he informed me that this was not about a gay issue at all, but that the media had simply colored it that way from day one. They had finally given up on trying to get the news people to report what really happened. The fact is, the killer of Matthew Shepard was not opposed to homosexuality; this was merely a robbery, and his goal was to steal money. The media knew that just as well as they know that Israel is a clean, modern nation, perfectly safe for Palestinians and everyone else, but they just will not report it. Calling the trial a “gay killing” makes it so, I’m afraid. And now, we have to endure editorial column after column debating what was a non-issue in the first place.

The media will be exposed for their skewed coverage of the Holy Land when our new series called “This Is Israel!” begins in March. We already have the footage in the can, and to tell you the truth, I myself was taken aback again by how beautiful all of Israel really is. When you go there, you see in an hour that the media has been showing you dusty streets and troubled villages on purpose, and simply driving past the very modern and impressive buildings, boulevards, parks, etc. The country is highly varied, like the United States, and it can be shown in a good or a bad light like any other country. The media have virtually decimated a modern democracy after 25 years of bashing, and that should be straightened out.

On the other hand, it may well be a true sign of the end. Betrayal is something the Lord lamented in His Olivet discourse, and He warned that “Ye shall be hated of all nations,” speaking to his Israeli disciples. I suppose that “it is written” and nothing really will change until the true King of Israel is seated on his throne.

Until then, come and see the land for yourself if you possibly can in this life. Come and walk where He walked; be where He taught and ministered. He will minister to you, too! Our Spring Deluxe Tour will be April 24 through May 2. We will visit such sites as Jerusalem, the ancient City of David, the Israel Museum where we will see the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, the Garden Tomb, the Upper Room, Calvary, the site of the Sermon on the Mount, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and Masada. And you can be baptized in the Jordan River just as our Lord was.

Our Spring Grand Tour will be April 19 through May 2. We will visit Greece before we join the Deluxe Tour and see Israel. How would you like to stand on Mars Hill where Paul preached “Christ and Him crucified” to the Athenians and Corinthians? Would you like to enjoy a luxury cruise as you visit the islands of Mykonos, Patmos and Rhodes? Have you seen the large stadium in Ephesus where Paul shared the message of hope and life with the Ephesians? Our tour of Greece includes all these things and more. Come and join us for a visit through time to New Testament history and faith. You can request a tour brochure by call (214) 696-9760 during office hours CT or 1-800-WONDERS (966-3377) any time. [Or click here]

And remember folks, we really do survive by your cash gifts. As we near the end of the year, our bills rise, and we covet your generosity. Thanks.

And pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Your messenger,