February 17, 2003 (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 last couple of months:

THEY LIKE MY PREACHING

“Mr. Cloud, I just wanted to write a little note of thanks for your web site and ministry. Your CD-Rom library is priceless, especially that of the KJV defense. God bless you and your ministry.”

“I've always found that the dog that barks the most -- is usually the one that got hit. It sounds like your message has hit a few of them. Don't change a bit.”

“Brother, thank you for your willingness to stand for the Word of God and, as a result, suffer persecution for it. As you know, God is the final Judge, and we can be sure He's keeping good records.”

“I just read some of your articles on repentance and ‘easy prayerism.’ I praise God for you writing those articles. The affect that they have had on me today cannot be expressed in words. A missionary from Scotland came to our church the other day and preached on not giving up and standing fast, even though others all around are falling. Thank you for doing that.”

“Thank you for taking a stand. Your God-given abilities (gifts) of intelligence and research have been a great help.”

“You are a breath of fresh air. Keep doing what your doing…”

“Be sure that there are far more brothers and sisters enjoying to read your daily mail than there are those who blame you for being a pharisee. Keep going.”

“Just a quick note to thank you for your ministry. Your ministry helps us stay alert to false teaching. My husband and I hope to educate, train, and encourage our children to be righteous soldiers for Christ. Thank you again.”

“I am sure that a lot of folks who are fundamental Baptists call you a legalist. Just continue to serve the Lord in the manner He has called you. I need the information to assist me maintain an expanding discerning spirit.”

“Just wanted to let you know, I thank you for your stand on music, the KJV, and the conservative, fundamental lifestyle. We need more preachers like you.”

“May God bless you real special for the sound teaching that you are sending out almost every day. You must be a very hard worker. You are truly a man of God for ‘such a time as this.’”

“Christian music used to be such a blessing but modern music has certainly taken away the real joy I knew. Instead we sing choruses as though we had to race to the finish. Usually, we repeat the words over and over again. We never really concentrate on the words themselves.”

“God bless you for making public your wonderful discernment that He has blessed you with!! Thank you so much. Amen in SD.”

“Thank you for this article. I was just dealing with a friend of mine Saturday morning that is active in Campus Crusade for Christ. I made the decision not to support him financially because of your information. … Your timing is impeccable. May God bless your ministry as he has used you to bless mine.”

“Thank you for your ministry which has greatly helped me (and others) over the last couple of years to make the transition from Pentecostalism to Evangelicalism and to come to an understanding of issues such as (among other things) the Modern Bibles, separation and compromise.”

“Brother Cloud, I was reading through the article ‘Music, Musick’ in the fourth edition Way of Life Encyclopedia earlier with the intent of writing a rebuttal to the claims within it. You see, I considered the arguments against CCM to be weak and easily overturned, effectively giving myself excuse to listen to anything labeled (whether rightly or not) ‘Christian.’ However, as I was writing my rebuttal, I came to a statement that not only couldn’t I reply to, but it was one that invoked in me a sense of conviction. ‘If the body and physical things are a priority in one’s life, that person is sensual. If the rhythm is the primary dominating part of any piece of music, then that music is sensual.’ (page 382) After reading that, I began to examine the reasons why I listened to bluegrass, rock, pop, and contemporary Christian music. The only answer I could find was that I enjoy it. I love the bluegrass instrumentalist’s prowess on various instruments; I love the sound of a rock guitar solo; I love the electro-beat of pop music... but despite all of that, I couldn’t find anything my spirit liked except the lyrics, but even they are dumbed down. I’ve been up all night going over everything in my heart and mind over and over again, and I have decided to give up the music that my body loves and seek to attain a higher standard of living. Thank you for such a wonderful encyclopedia; I’m sure I’m not the first person the Lord has helped through it. God bless you and your ministry.”

“I'm writing to let you know just how much I enjoy using your book, ‘Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity.’ Since I was saved in 1977 I have loved studying the Bible and always have a commentary & dictionary near when I do. Unfortunately they’ve always been written or edited by those who believe much differently then we do. It is such a blessing to have your study help which not only reinforces our doctrinal position but also explains them in a very simple manner that makes their meaning easier to understand. My Father-in-law bought your book for me when you were at our church. It is the most precious thing he has ever done for me.”

THEY DON’T LIKE MY PREACHING

“Regarding your ‘editorial’ called: THE ROCK GROUP U2. Articles like this lead me to believe that Americans are the biggest threat to civilization since fascism.”

“If anyone ever gives you the scenario that there are no Christian fundamentalists as dangerous in their beliefs as Muslim fundamentalists, pass this web address along to them [the address of Way of Life Literature]. This is a guy that is positive that he has a direct pipeline to the Almighty that has given him this unbelievably twisted interpretation of the Bible (nothing but the King James Version is valid) that condemns everyone else that believes in a higher power (especially Catholics) to an, obviously, crowded compartment in Hell, while he and the handful of other people that actually believe his nonsense, sit at the feet of his ‘loving’ God. David W. Cloud not only hates rock music, but pretty much hates all music.”

“Wow, reading your statements have truly disgusted me. I am revolted. I say with complete sarcasm, thank you for that excellent display of the Love of Christ. Sin has been defined as ‘missing the mark,’ and never has one missed the mark as soundly and completely as you have. People like you are the reasons that the World has a poor view of Christianity and sees American Christians as greedy, self-righteous, hypocritical fat cats with nothing to do but find fault with others. Truly, no good deed goes unpunished with the likes of David W. Cloud around.”

“On a wild internet search, I stumbled upon your dissertation on everything bad about Promise Keepers. My only question to you is why are you attempting to cause dissention and fragmentation within the body of Christ? Aren’t we supposed to come together as one body in the name of Jesus Christ, for the advancement of the Kingdom of God here on earth? Technicalities are for trial lawyers; the bible is for everyone. ... As a footnote. You can ... throw scripture verses at me left and right, to justify your argument. But what’s the point? I’m not going to stop bringing men to Promise Keepers...”

“Your stance on ANY music with a Christian message is unbelievable. What ever happened to ‘judge not lest ye be judged’?”

“You are a waste of time sir.”

“Do all legitimate Christians a favor and shut up.”

“This has to be the dumbest and most absurd reasoning I have ever heard! [Stated after reading my article “Did Luther Use Tavern Music?”]

“I read your article on Jim Bakker's new ministry and the truth is that you sound like a big mouth in your article and one wonder why don't you keep your mouth shut.”

“Do you people really believe Lennon was the anti-christ or something? This is some of the funniest stuff I've read in years!”

“Your article on ‘How to Keep CCM Out of the Church’ is absolutely based on sheer stupidity! … Before making bold statements about contemporary Christian music, you should probably do a little homework so you wouldn't look so ignorant on the world wide web!!”

“As a baptized in the Holy Spirit, Charismatic Mass going Catholic convert (I was Baptist) I plan to pray for you. From your web site it is plain to see that you are so far removed from authentic Christianity that only pity not anger comes to my heart. I now have an example of how a person can grieve the Holy Spirit. Stop embarrassing the cause of Christ. Please.”

“YOUR SICK, PERVERTED FORM OF PHARISAICAL JUDGMENTALISM IS A TURN OFF.”

“I have visited your web site for the first time today. I have not seen so much hate spewed forth onto ‘other Christians’ that I have seen on your web site, especially against Catholics. In my humble opinion most, if not all that is published are about as factual as a statement such as, ‘the moon is bigger that the sun.’ GOD IS LOVE! Try some. Let the love of God pour forth from you into the world and you will see the world quite differently--a world filled with God fearing/loving people.”

“How can you even say that rock music is of the world? ... You went as far as to say that people should beware of Veggietales! Are you insane?”

“How dare you criticize a man who is preaching what he believes. I am in complete support of Mr. Swindoll. Do you have nothing better to do with your time than to judge others.”

“Your so dumb, I feel like slapping you. Ive seen alot of stupid people in my life, but you win the reward. I think I should tell you that you are Ichabod, the glory of the Lord has departed, but it was probably never there. I love the fact that I get to yell at a Pharisee, just like Jesus did!”

“Please, please, please drink some snake poison, or handle a rattler in the name of Jesus. It would do all of us some good. The fewer inbred incestuous bible thumpers the better.”

“I admonish you to pray more, and spend less time beating people up, in so doing you will be less of a tool for satan.”

“You're view is small, judgmental, and you use the Word of God (in King James no less) as your personal weapon to attack the work of others directly commissioned by God. You will answer to Him, you don’t need to answer to me.”

“I am a practicing Roman Catholic. My religion was created 1,970 years ago by Jesus Christ (Mt. 11:16). I ask, was yours? The hail Mary, if you listened to the words, isn't praying to the virgin mother. Instead we say it, asking her to pray over us. ... Peace be with you, lost brethren.”

THEY ARE IN OUTER SPACE!

“People like you are the reason we have events like Sept 11. Make it your holiday.”

“When you use Paul as the teacher instead of Christ you learn to be selfish instead of constructive. Paul was nothing but a self-sanctifying braggart. His saying something does not make it fact. Even if Paul were told to preach, it does not mean his words are any better than anyone's else's, let alone infallible or equivalent to Christ's words. ... Christ focused on love as his central concern, while Paul's theology has nothing resembling love in it.”

“Again, exposing all of this is definitely necessary to a point, but there are so many more important activities of Satan that need to be taught to the sheep so they know what to look out for. … there’s the common deceptions among the flock about unhealthy toxic food, chemical laden everything else, drugs, hospital birth, 9/11, terrorism, Osama, and those deadly satanic vaccines that are an abomination to the Lord. How come the disciples are not being warned of all these things? … Preachers and the brethren need to stop bringing the poisonous food and publicity into the church and into the minds of fellow Christians.”

“I am a Christian man that has for years believed in, and exercised, the power of the Holy Spirit working within. Attached you will find an excerpt from a book that I have written that you may find of interest. The book I have written is (I BELIEVE 100%) inspired by the Holy Spirit.”

“How is playing Dungeons and Dragons immoral anyway? It's not real. I know that magic is not real...so how is it going to hurt me? … Would it surprise you to find out that Christianity itself was primarily based on Pagan beliefs? You call others evil, but you are ignorant and are closer to evil yourself for being so.”

“You're not going to believe what's happening to me now. someone is doing an experiment on me. I mean an experiment on a living creature. it's kind of hard to explain this situation. Base: liquid thing interacting with human body in itself. 1. they raise some Koreans (about 20) and put liquid thing into their body. 2. Using satellite, they located korean's liquid thing around me and also put liquid thing into my body, also liquid thing in my body is interacting with that korean's liquid thing. can you believe this? please, trust me!! (served in US Army as SWAT team). maybe next time i can explain more details about this situation.”

“I would like to know how to spell ‘Merry Christmas’ in the Baoule language. I would appreciate it if you can help me.”