July 2009 Update Report
A Note from Ed
Dear Friends,
I recently returned from a trip to Marlow, Oklahoma where I met with the family and friends of our friend, the late John L. Smith. We had agreed that Saints Alive would absorb John’s ministry, folding it into ours. My son, Josh went with me, along with his cousin, Keith Conners. Keith is a key part of MicahTek, the company that handles our data base management and order fulfillment. Carol’s sister, Pam Conners, owns the company.
Josh and Keith, along with some local volunteers, did all the heavy work while I sat and chatted with the family. We finally drove away with a U-Haul trailer filled with John’s personal library and many of his books, tracts, personal papers that covered his 68 years of dedicated ministry. We are so grateful to all of you who helped in financing this important project!
After sorting through three pallet-loads of boxes, we finally selected several of his books and those he recommended from several other authors to add to our inventory.
We selected out copies of all his books, many of his cassette teachings and CDs that will be placed on our website for your free downloading and several cases of his personal papers to ship back to our offices.
The bulk of the books and cassettes, videos, CDs and a complete set of all his “Inner Circle” and monthly newsletters/ papers have been shipped to the Special Collections Library at Utah State University. This is where we keep our historical records and files documenting the history of the Ex-Mormon movement and the work of Saints Alive in particular.
We have done this so that this critical information will be available to researchers for many years after we are gone. For those who would like to browse through that inventory, go to http://library.usu.edu/specol/manuscript/collms210.html
Meanwhile, back at the office, I am spending my days transferring the thousands of pages of articles that fill our present website to the new, interactive website that is now in what we used to call Beta format.
It is a joyful, yet laborious process, because it requires that I read everything I have written over the years, making updates and correcting formatting glitches as I go along. After reading some of the things I wrote 25 years ago, I am amazed at how much smarter I was back then as compared to now. I am excited about the way the new site is developing and I cannot wait to get it on line. Expect some great surprises.
Have a great July!
Keeping you in prayer,
Your brother in Christ,
Ed Decker
Two Items on Islam that
Came up this week
First:
Michael the Muslim
Michael Jackson's family reportedly is considering to have a traditional Muslim burial for the late music performer.
A source close to the Jacksons has exclusively revealed to X17 online that his family will likely have a traditional Muslim burial for late Michael Jackson. "The family s considering following the Muslim burial traditions because they believe Michael would have wanted to be laid to rest in keeping with his new-found religious beliefs," says the source.
"Michael's brother Jermaine is educating the family as to the special rites because he feels it's important to bury his brother according to the Muslim way," adds the source. Despite earlier reports that both public and private memorial services for the late music performer have been set to be held this week, there has been no official confirmation just yet from Michael's family on the location where his body will be laid to rest.
Michael Jackson was reported converting to Islam in late 2008, years after expressing his interest to join the faith. He later on changed his name into "Mikaeel", which was meant as a reference to the name of one of Allah's angels.http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00025411.html
Second:
Rick Warren and His Purpose Driven Islam
Rick Warren spoke warmly to the Islamic world at the Islamic society of North America’s annual conference on July 4th Warren spoke about Christians and Muslims working together to fight what he calls the big five, spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease, and illiteracy or lack of education.
He also stated that “You know as an evangelical pastor, my deepest faith is in Jesus Christ, but you also need to know that I am committed not just to what I call the good news, but I am committed to the common good.”
The Muslims loved him. He talked their talk, their agenda. At least the agenda they lay out before the world. Not the one they live.
The Muslim world is one rift with lives so empty that suicide bombing is a good idea, a world filled with corrupt leadership, with extreme poverty, rampant disease and illiteracy for the general populations.
As a true Christian pastor, he should know that the common good for humanity is to follow what Christ said and “preach repentance and remission of sins to all nations.”
He forgot that Jesus commissioned him to go and make disciples of all the nations, not to bow down for their gods.
The thing that slipped by most people, even those who were upset with his compromising message of joyous unity was his mention of Jesus: my deepest faith is in Jesus Christ. Sounds pretty good, but the Muslims who nodded their approval of his generic words.
You see, the Jesus they know is another Jesus. The Muslim Jesus is a prophet who pointed the way to the greatest prophet, Mohammed and who will return to be a witness against the infidel (the Jews and the Christians) and proclaim the glory of Mohammed. See Sura 4.159 in the article below.
Had Rick Warren stated my deepest faith is in Jesus Christ, “who died for the sins of the world, yours and mine.” defining the real Jesus, he would have been escorted out on his ear. However, he would have been true to his faith and his calling as an Evangelical Christian leader and a man of God.
I am sorry to say it, but Rick Warren is not a man of God, but a man of gods.
Even his use of the word, Evangelical, was misleading at best, because an evangelical is one who zealously emphasizes the authority of the Bible and salvation through the personal acceptance of Jesus Christ.
Because of the massive inroads Islam is making in this country right now, even in many of our churches who are blind to the radical Islamic goal of the death of Israel and Christianity, I have included a major article on Islam in this Update Report.
Comments? write to me at:
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Islam and Christianity Compared
Islam is one of those “other gospels” that Paul warned us about time and again. In Chapter 11 of II Corinthians, Paul warns us that Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Islam teaches that God is so far above man in every way that he is virtually unknowable. He will send individuals to Paradise or Hell as they deserve and as he chooses.
What the Koran says about Jesus:
He was not the Son of God.
“And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The
Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!’ (Sura 9:30)
He was not divine.
“Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely, Allah— He is the Messiah, son of Marium.
Say: Who then could control anything as against Allah when He wished to destroy the Messiah son of Marium and his mother and all those on the earth?
And Allah’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them; He creates what He pleases; and Allah has
power over all things.” (Sura 5.17)
“The Messiah, son of Marium is but an apostle; apostles before him have indeed passed away; and his mother was a truthful woman; they both used to eat food. See how We make the communications clear to them, then behold, how they are turned away.” (Sura 5.75)
He was not crucified.
“And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the apostle of
Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him,
but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only
in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture,
and they killed him not for sure.” (Sura 4.157)
“Nay! Allah took him up to Himself; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.” (Sura 4.15)
He did not atone for our sins.
“On the day when the earth shall be changed into a different earth, and the
heavens (as well), and they shall come forth before Allah, the One, the Supreme.
And you will see the guilty on that day linked together in chains. Their shirts made of pitch and the fire covering their faces.
That Allah may requite each soul (according to) what it has earned; surely Allah is
swift in reckoning.” (Sura14.48-51)
He will return but his second coming to be a witness for Mohammed.
“And there is not one of the followers of the Book but most certainly believes in this
before his death, and on the day of resurrection he (Isa) shall be a witness against them.” (Sura 4.159)
He is not God come in the flesh, the ‘son’ of God.
There is no Trinity.
“O followers of the Book! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak
(lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa, son of Marium is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him;
believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be It from His glory that He should have a son,
whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.” (Sura 4.171)
“Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah is the third (person) of the three; and there is no god but the one God, and if they desist not from what they say, a painful
chastisement shall befall those among them who disbelieve.” (Sura 5.73)
What the Bible Says About Jesus
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him
nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1 -4, 14)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”” (John
14:6).
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are
from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how
you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist, whichyou have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1 - 3)
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Colosians 2:9)
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26: 28)
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)
“Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.” (John 19:20)
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1: 1-3)
Is Allah a Different God?
Is Allah, this stone idol, actually the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Just because Mohammed said so does not make it so! Allah chose Hagar and her son, Ishmael forhis covenant.
The God of the Bible chose Abraham’s other son, Isaac, as the legitimate heir to His covenant. This act has forever separated the two and the people of Ishmael have warred against the children of Isaac ever since.
“And the Angel of the LORD said to her (Hagar): “Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”” (Genesis16:11-12)
“And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
“And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I and will greatly increase his numbers. He will make him into a great nation.
“But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from
him.” (Genesis 17:18 - 22)
Allah is an impersonal deity, impossible to approach or comprehend. The Bible’s God befriends men like Abraham (Isaiah 41:8) and talks with them (Genesis18:23-33)!
T
he God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob loved us so much He sent His only begotten Son to die for us (John 3:16)!
Allah is a god of fear and terrorism that commands destruction upon those who refuse to convert to Islam. His prophet, Mohammed is a false prophet.
The Bible’s God delights to show His boundless mercy. His gospel is the “Good News” of peace and forgiveness.
Allah requires total obedience to Islam and weighs the works of people. Allah and the Koran relegate Jesus to just the last prophet before Mohammed, below his authority. Jesus was not the Way, and could only point
the way to Mohammed.
The Bible clearly states that Jesus was and still is the way.
Allah required the works of Mohammed to complete his words of judgment to man.
The God of The Bible sent His son who did the finished work of grace for man.
In the light of Allah’s actual origin and his radical difference from the God of the Bible, we must conclude that Allah is not God. Nor is the name, Allah, a generic Mid-East name for God, as even many Christians think.
Allah is the name of a false god who cannot save anyone from anything. Rather, Islam continues to lead hundreds of millions into eternal darkness. Ed Decker
The above article is just a portion of the booklet, Understanding Islam: the Mystery Religion,
Speaking of John L. Smith
Brigham Smith, by John L. Smith
This novel was written after a background of almost twenty years in Utah, the land of the Mormons. While the novel is fiction, the historical setting for Brigham Smith is true. This novel describes what it is like to be born into a devout Mormon family and to grow up in Mormonism. The author intertwines the pages of this exciting story with a multitude of facts that are intended to inform, to challenge, and to inspire.
The Extraordinary Life & Ministry
of an Ordinary Preacher!
By John L. Smith
Preaching has not come without a price for John L. Smith. When he left for BibleCollege his father essentially disowned him. No son of his, the elder Smith insisted, was going to be a preacher. Now that more than 65 years later, after having served as a Baptist pastor, missionary, teacher and evangelist, John L. Smith has written this autobiographical account of his extraordinary journey from an ordinary Oklahoma farm boy to the present.
These books are available at our website bookstore.
Or call our order line at 1-800-861-9888
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