November 7, 2002 (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) –

From time to time, I publish some of the goodies from my interesting mailbox, and many people have told me that they enjoy reading these things. Following are some items from the about three weeks ending November 11, 2002:

THEY LIKE MY PREACHING

“I just got through reading the latest O Timothy magazine and enjoyed the two main articles on ‘Easy Prayerism’ and ‘Calvinism.’ … We get 50 copies of the O Timothy periodical sent to our church each month and our people are on a list to receive them. They all love them and it sure helps me in teaching and warning them against the Neo-evangelicals and compromisers in this day! There isn’t enough time during the Sunday School classes or preaching hours to cover all these topics so this sure helps get more taught in less time.”

“I am in the process of using your videos on the issues facing the churches today. I use them on Sunday evenings, and they are excellent! Thanks so much for providing such informative and documented information for local churches.”

“In this Laodicean age, there is such apostasy that a bold stand is the ‘rabble-rouser.’ The Waldensians, Hugenots, etc. of the Middle Ages whose lives were on the line, would have had no quarrel with a minister who had a position such as you have in our modern age. Your faithfulness in warning a careless Christianity will be amply rewarded at the Judgment seat of Christ.”

“I see my job as a Pastor in the following four areas: I believe a Pastor is to feed, guide, encourage, and warn. I appreciate your ministry. It helps me so much with the ‘warning’ part of my ministry.”

“Thank you !!!!!!!!! I just read all your articles on sports on the internet (by the way I am a man that God created and saved through and by His precious blood, and have been involved in sports very extensively in my past) and I salute you for speaking the truth. It is so easy to be deceived in this world today, sports in many ways has infiltrated (some minor, some major) our churches and definitely most of our saints. … The Baptist church that I belong to had the Super Bowl game shown on the altar of God in our sanctuary. Where is the purity of our church today, where is the reverence of God and God’s holy word, where are God’s leaders?”

“Thank you for the article on Rush Limbaugh. I share a similar experience. I was a devoted listener to Rush for about 4 years. I noted the same patterns over time and began tuning in less. I heard him complain about Christians asking him if he was saved and his anger shocked me. We need to join our efforts and pray that Rush would be saved -- then he would really understand ‘talent on loan from God!’”

“I needed to be reminded about Limbaugh. Thank you for stepping on my toes. I have been paying too much attention to politics the past couple of weeks, and not enough attention to heavenly things like evangelizing the lost.”

“You keep doing the Lord’s work without regard to the ranting of worldly men. May God give you grace to go forward in the teeth of the opposition and in the knowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ is with you. I couldn’t believe the opposition mail! I’m sure you can't send out all of it. May the Lord be all your encouragement this day.”

“Dear Mr. Cloud, I have recently read your book ‘CCM Under The Spotlight’ & have discovered things that I was not aware of before. … I am ready to give up all of my CCM that I have listened to for many years. I have already culled out quite a bit! I would like to take the time to thank you for your extensive research in this matter. My understanding of CCM has changed drastically since reading your book! I too have been guilty of listening to secular music along with CCM. When I trusted the Lord as my Saviour in Aug. of 1978 I burned about $2000 of secular music. Unfortunately I would buy some back from time to time. To make a long story short, after talking it over with my wife of 22.5 yrs. we decided to get rid of all the secular music altogether. I told her ‘it's not coming back.’ I just got tired of fighting it in my mind. I admit I enjoyed all kinds of music and had a hard time of letting it go! Your book is more than just on music, it makes you take a hard look at where one who is a believer is standing in his faith and how firm is he standing. I never realized the deception in CCM. … We do read the KJV and crossed over from SBC churches to Independent Baptists.”

“I thank you again for your wonderfully uplifting FBIS. I have found nothing else like it available.”

“I thank God for your ministry. The LORD used your ministry to bring me out from among the compromising churches.”

“The Lord has been working in my life through the years, so tenderly bringing me along, teaching me about how to please and glorify him with my life. I’m sure he’s got a lot more to do in me, but I praise the Lord for bringing this your ministry into my life. I must admit that the first time I read one of your publications, I wasn’t sure how to receive what I was reading but I couldn’t deny that what you wrote was from the Word of God. My flesh was flinching but the Spirit of God had witnessed with my spirit that you wrote the truth. Thank you and keep on for the glory of God.”

“Bro. Cloud, I read this morning the various messages from your supporters and detractors. Moments later I was reading Isaiah 62, and I thought I would share an observation with you. ‘I have set watchmen upon thy walls, Oh Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace, day nor night. Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence.’ If one considers the charge to the watchman, it is to see that the wall is not breached. More than that, it is to warn of an approaching enemy or potential enemy before he reaches the wall. In this mindset, there is little place for ‘tolerance,’ inclusivism, or multiculturalism, and certainly ecumenicalism and New Evangelicalism. The efficiency of the watchman is predicated upon his DISCRIMINATORY powers, his vigilance, his diligence -- all the elements in disfavor in today's culture, secular and religious. Moreover, the watchman’s zeal for his job will be directly proportional to the value that he places on that which is inside the walls: no value -- no passion for his job: let 'em all in & lets ‘celebrate Jesus!’ Then, we go just a few verses away to verse 62:12 to see what kind of value God places on the watchmen, as well as those within the walls: ‘And behold, they shall call them the holy people.’”

“I just wanted you to know that I appreciate your answer to the local pastor concerning ‘How to avoid Quick Prayerism.’ It was with grace, understanding, and with a great deal of our Lord’s attitude I believe.”

“I want to extend a big ‘thank you’ for your stand on the truths of Scripture. Your views are always well-appreciated. Please continue in your work for the Gospel and never waver, for God has given you a special ministry and He needs more men like yourself to stand for the Cause of Christ. Never get discouraged. God has a purpose for everything that happens. Keep looking toward Him for He is our sufficiency.”

“I would like to tell you what a blessing and encouragement you have been to me. Your web site, books, articles, and videos have been such a help and blessing in my life. I just want you to know that I pray for you and your ministry daily.”

THEY DON’T LIKE MY PREACHING

“I have not come across many religious web sites as ridiculous as yours! Are you serious?”

“No, Mr. Cloud, you haven’t proven diddly-squat! … You see, Mr. Cloud, if people were familiar with what the Bible teaches on these things and familiar with the facts pertaining to Bro. Branham’s ministry, they would not fall for the kind of garbage that deceivers like you put out. But in the end you will receive a just recompense of reward for what you've done. Of this I have no doubt.”

“And to question the faith of both Jim Cymbala and Billy Graham? Do you not know God? Do you not know how He works? You can spend your whole life debating over issues as such, but until you receive the gift of genuine love in your heart, you’ll never understand or gain anything.” [Observation from Brother Cloud: What about love for the truth and love for those who are being led astray by error?]

“You seem to be contributing to the perpetual splintering of the Christian Church. Have you ever studied the teachings of Calvin, Zwingli, or Luther? How about the teachings of the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church; a Church that has been unchanged for 2000 years?”

“These lyrics plainly show that John [Lennon] was hurting and was having tremendous difficulty carrying the weight. Your brand of Christianity isn’t showing love, compassion or prayers for John or his brutal murder by what appears on this webpage. The loss of love and understanding in a Christian is equally tragic, as this webpage illustrates. The 911 tragedy shows us true evil, as this word has been greatly misused. Thank God for the creation of John Lennon and the wonderful thought-provoking music!”

“Wow. What an inflammatory, biased and short-sighted article.”

“David, I am an ex-Baptist because of the legalistic and judgmental attitude I saw everywhere I looked in the Baptist Church. As I said before, my brother was saved at Promise Keepers [through the preaching of a Catholic bishop], and I am grateful for the movement. I do not place Catholics in the same category as Jehovah’s witnesses or Mormons, and you shouldn't either.”

“I have no intention of leaving the Catholic Church. I disregard the unbiblical parts of the Mass. … As long as I do not engage in any unscriptural acts, I do not see any reason to leave the Catholic Church. The only thing that matters is that I accepted Jesus as personal savior.”

“I am so offended by your remarks about Women of Faith conferences and your web site. I am a born again Christian of many years, FUNDAMENTAL in my theology but light years from your oppressive and negative world. What a disservice you do to Christianity. I am ashamed to call you a brother in Christ. I pray you will be liberated from your shackles of pharisaical life and join other fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ who celebrate their freedom in Christ. How can you sleep at night? Don’t even think of responding to this email.”

“Total rubbish! … the line of people who wish to distort Calvin’s teaching is very long. Hunt’s arguments in your email are unbiblical and at times silly, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is secretly working for Rome.”

“You and all affiliated with this site are Heretics! Your comments on the Lords ONE and ONLY Catholic Church are outrageous! Our Lord would be furious. You will have much explaining to do at the last judgment.”

“Leave rock stars alone. TV and rock music are not hurting normal well adjusted kids.”

THEY ARE IN OUTER SPACE!

“What a loser your so blind i wonder if you have eyes at all. You did not even mention what will help you leave this ground the rapture, the Holy Ghost. Come on man wake up and open you eyes. You will stand before God and answer for your false teaching. You will also stand for your lack of back bone to teach the truth. A worm at best. Spinless to live according to screpture. You teach lies. I rebuke your false tongue in Jesus name.”

“The Church age has ended and there isn’t going to be a ‘rapture.’ Don’t get ‘caught up’ (read Matt 13--the parable of the wheat and the tares) in the judgment on Mystery Babylon who tries to pass herself off as a true Christian Church but is full of pride, deception and fornication (worldliness). It is time to do as God commands and come out of her, my people.”

“Spirits are speaking in my dreams and other ways. I wrote it down. Please see ------ Was visited by a holy spirit. Do you think computers are an interactive link between the biospheres?”

“I am seeking any information you may have or know of, that will help in my search for a person known simply as ‘Nun, friend of Moses’. He is spoken of, or referenced only three times, in the KJV, one being the aforementioned ‘Friend of Moses’, Jeshua, son of Nun’ and ‘Joshua, son of Nun’. … I go where the holy spirit leads, culling nothing, along the prophecy lines, except those contained in ‘Rusky's’ ‘Satanic Verses’, and have read just about everything that has been written, from Velikofsky's ‘Words in Collision’ to our own ‘Revelations’. The pyramid prophecies to Edgar Cayce's Ancient ‘Inca’ texts to ‘Black Elk’ here in the Southwest of North America.”

“I believe in Jesus. In Jesus' existence. No, much more -- I know of his existence. And I know of course that many parts of your sick bible are actually that -- sick, because some people I would more prefer to call the devil(s), (than to call the people who are the slaves) thought they have to change this. Well, what am I about to say? Your devil and Satan you talk about is directly among all of us. All of you. It is what we make of it. … If one practices what Jesus taught, he would love. Nothing more. No bad, and no good.”