It was a wonderful blessing to be sought out by a young lady who embraced the Mormon faith five years ago as I have had a bit of a serious and rational dialog with her in the last few weeks. Today she had a list of questions for me. Things like why do we know the Bible is the Bible, why did Jesus say “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” and several things about what is the Trinity. What she got was a reasoned response offered with grace. It was not a denominational perspective, but evidence from Scripture and history. When questions probing further were asked, an even more complete answer was given. What a joy that the Lord has granted me the ability to do this. I so wonder, as stated in today’s long voicemail, was this the kind of man my wife desired when she married me, or a guy who would succeed financially in this world? Yes, I have made many serious blunders, but in the process have grown to know the Lord all the more. As the often quoted 1Peter3:15 states, I am indeed ready to give an answer or make a defense that Jesus is indeed the Lord, He is Yahweh, the Creator who stepped into His creation to redeem His elect. Unlike the two Mormons that I am currently engaging who rely on emotional confirmation, I can offer evidence.

Jim Cross, I so desire to have this level of dialog with you and continue to pray that one day you will be man enough to follow through as I had the joy of doing so this day with a young lady. To express love to another person created in the image of God is marvelous.

It is a joy to proclaim the veracity of Scripture and the Gospel to interested ears. However, doing so to institutional religious bodies can have a serious cost. Consider the persecution of Stephen in Acts 7. His final words I embrace: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Consider the persecution of Fritz Erbe by the Protestants in the 1500s. Consider the persecution by Meadowview Presbyterian Church whose leadership turns to the state to send an armed man to shut me up. I suggest in all cases the institution fears the Scripture as it points to the fallacy of their institution.

As the Lord offers His grace, I will continue to proclaim and not impose obedience to Christ. I will seek to reconcile with Jim Cross, Render Caines, Chris Bitterman, and my wife. This will continue for all of the remaining days of my life until I am stopped. This is what a man who actually believes the Scripture is true would do. This what a man who trusts in the Lord must do. Dorothy-Jane, isn’t that the kind of man you want? I love you!