In Memorial

I don’t know.. Maybe it is just because I am getting older, but I am going to too many Memorial services lately. I just don’t like it.


Dr. Wendell Smith, our wonderful pastor for the last 16 years passed away recently after battling cancer for 6 years. Thousands of people from around the world showed up about a week ago to pay their respects and it was a mighty tribute to his life and legacy. I would have really preferred that they were all there to listen to one of his marvelous sermons. He was too young and will be greatly missed.


A few days ago, I went to the Memorial service of a dear friend of mine, John Parrott. John was a long time missionary in Mexico where he lived a poor peasant life, ministering to those around him. His skill as a mechanic kept many an old appliance, car, bus or truck running. He lived a servant’s life there as he shared the Lord along with his gifts of love, humor and grace.


John never tried to be the center of anything. He was always on the outside of the center, being a servant. When his mother became ill, John returned to this area and became not only a servant to her for the rest of her life, but also served Pastor Wendell as personal assistant, there to take on any assigned task with a joy in the doing.


John always had a hug and a kind word for anyone who crossed his path and his relationship with me was one of grace and gentleness, qualities I learned to blend into my own life through his example.


John was a serious diabetic and the disease ate away at him over the recent years, yet he never complained. He told another pastor that he could easily lay down on the sofa, close his eyes and slip into heaven if it were not that his mother needed him to care for her needs.


In late December, both John and his mother were in the hospital he was there because of her heart and John was there because the diabetes was starting to shut down his organs, as it had happened with my own sister, Judy.


On December 27th, during the mid-morning, John’s mother, Jean Peterson closed her eyes and went to heaven. Two hours later, in another part of the same hospital, John sighed deeply and slipped into heaven right behind his beloved mom.


A tenor sang the song, On Eagle’s Wings as we said goodbye to both Jean and John. The words here do not capture the joy in Christ we felt as we thought of them at home with Jesus.

And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,

bear you on the breath of dawn,

make you to shine like the sun,

and hold you in the palm of his hand.

Goodbye my dear brother. You made a difference in my life and the lives of all who knew you. Let it be said that you filled your life as a faithful servant of the Lord.

Christmas Greetings 2020

Dear Friends


It is Christmas time again and I want to wish  you and your families the greatest Christmas ever!


There is no doubt that the Christmas season has been renamed the Holiday Season and Christ, for whom the season was named has been all but removed  from the equation, replaced by secularism and its God-less worldview. Christmas tree lots are now selling holiday trees and cities now celebrate with holiday lights and festivities. The word, Christmas, is disappearing from public view.


I was asked this morning in an email if we Christians should even participate in Christmas, since it has become so non-Christian and I shout an absolutely loud YES!


It is such a great time to witness. In stores and shops where they are forbidden to wish us a Merry Christmas and mutter a watered down, Happy Holiday, we can smile and respond with “God Bless you ! Have a wonderful Christmas and remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.” Or, at least respond with, “Merry Christmas.”

O Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.

Give to our Father glory in the Highest;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

My wife Carol and I, along with our family, thank you to those of you who have  continued in your  faithful commitment to the ministry of Saints Alive. This is often a tough ministry, reaching out to lost people, most of whom want to stay lost and in fact, think we are the lost ones. Because of your support and prayers, we have been able to stay in the battle for souls for 33 years this coming January. So many tens of thousands of people have found the real Jesus in those years.


At the end of each year, the last few weeks of December, I try to set time aside to pray and reflect on the ministry, its goals and direction. During this time, I pull out my box of prayer requests and go through them again, making your prayer needs my priority. Please, if you want answered prayers, send me an email [edecker@nwlink.com] and be assured that your prayers will be lifted up to the One who answers prayers.

Liars, Liars, Pants on Fire

Yes, I have to admit that those ads for Chicken fingers at Carl’s Jr had my mouth watering and after a few weeks of looking at those succulent, huge chunks of Chicken fingers I gave in and hurried down to Carl’s Jr. and ordered up a batch of them for myself. Actually, my wife was with me and as ready as I was for this fantastic treat.



We eagerly sat down to feast on the golden delight and when we opened the containers, our eyes beheld the truth behind the advertising, The largest of all the strips was about the size of my thumb.


The Advertising folks at Carl’s Jr. should be locked away for a month and forced to eat nothing but the same chicken fingers they so cleverly lied about in their ads…


My advice.. Stay away from Carl’s Jr. Chicken strips.. They sure ain’t what the ad claims they are.. I doubt that the strips in the ads were even made by Carl’s Jr. Probably bought them at Popeye’s.


Some of the TV ads today are downright insults to our intelligence and yet companies pay big money for those deceitful claims, because they work. And we. Like fools, believe what isn’t so and hurry down and buy their chicken strips.


Oh, and if I see one more HP ad with the little baby in the walker speeding in and out of dangerous traffic I am going to end running in and out of traffic, screaming. That is, if I could actually run without tripping over my cane. Then, too, I don’t get much traffic on my street. Someone would have to drive me down to the freeway.

Halloween

When I was a kid, Halloween was a lot different than it is today.


In the little up-state New York farm country where I grew up, the houses weren’t close together and most had long driveways and that made going door to door more than most could handle. Anyway. If you did make it to a house, you mostly got an apple for your trouble. This modern kind of Halloween with little candies of every type and a zillion costumes for sale at the mall hadn’t been invented yet. In fact, neither had malls or WalMart or Target.


We had barn parties where we dunked for apples and dug through a pile of hay for nickels and a possible quarter or two. I remember pitching pennies into milk bottles. Lots of pumpkin pies and homemade ice cream. For costumes, we wore our school clothes, the same clothes we wore working in the barn. Lot’s of square dancing for the older folks while we kids just ran around and threw apples at each other.


After we moved to the city, things were never the same. Because I was a poor kid, I went door to door, “Trick or Treating” on Thanksgiving, too. That was great because a lot of them gave me turkey legs and pie.


As the years went on and I married, we loved Halloween and the enjoyed the little kids coming to the front door. I certainly scared a lot of little kids until someone suggested that I wear a Halloween mask or something to mellow things down. Of course, those were the days when I wore an afro.


Now as we live in a retirement development, things have really changed. The “trick or treaters” that come to my door now couldn’t do a trick if they practiced. Last year, we had problems with some of them getting their walkers tangled up at the door and driving their golf carts into the fountain.


We put together a neat bowl of treats. I like to do up the ever popular little baggies of Metamucil and a lot of them go right for the strips of scotch taped Tums. I love to take two lifesavers and hook them together in my own neat way to a rubber band and it is such fun watching them trying to figure that one out.


We have to help a few who forget why they are at our door. We get a lot who knock on the door because they need to use the bathroom and one lady came in and went to bed. We didn’t find her until we were getting ready that night.


I never know what to say about their costumes. It’s just that you just can’t tell. Sure, a lot of them who dress up in their pajamas. But then, I just saw a lady wearing her pajamas at Costco today.


Then there was the lady who would come to the door, get her treat , go out onto the street and forget she had just been here and come back again. We finally brought her in and sat her in front of the TV with a dish of ice cream.. Her son finally came and found her.


The nice part of Halloween in my neighborhood is first, it is a hoot and second, we are all done before darkness even thinks about coming our way.

Has Ed Decker gotten soft in his old age?

I gave a very rare hour and a half interview last week to the folks at www.mormonexpression.com and was hosted by John Larsen. It was all about my life and Ministry.

There were lot's of “Mormon” questions/ rumors asked/answered. Especially rare since it was with the group, Mormon Expressions. They are a group of dedicated Mormons, liberal Mormons and former Mormons. Actually a pretty good group of people and a healthy mix, as far as I can see. John Larsen was most gracious.

You can listen to it or download it at:

http://mormonexpression.com/2010/10/episode-90-ed-decker/

I sent word out to some of my ministry friends about the interview and this was the response from Dr. Ron Carlson.

Ed,


I spoke on Mormonism tonight in Oklahoma City and came back to the Hampton Inn and found your email. It's after midnight here and I just finished listening to all 1 hour and 27 minutes of your interview. It was not only spellbinding but GREAT!!!!!! You were so loving and gracious. And wow, what a powerful Gospel message you shared throughout as well as dispelling all the false rumors about you. It was Powerful. God really spoke through you. I pray that it will have a wide hearing because it is going to have a profound effect on people who listen. Praise God for you years of faithfulness. I'm for you! Warmly, Ron





This is an interview that every Mormon and every Christian dealing with Mormonism needs to hear.



Ed answers questions such as:



• His History in the LDS Church

• What Really caused him to leave the church

• How is his faith now different from his Mormon faith

• What is the Goal and mission of Saints Alive

• The God Makers. A success? Why such a bad rap from Mormons

• Looking back, would Ed do anything different

• Do you think Mormons are Christians

• Those many Mormon rumors about Ed Decker



On the Question: Are Mormons Christian

Rather, Don’t you think Mormons are Muslims? They both say that Jesus was not the end of the law, but pointed the way.. That there would be a ‘final’ prophet who would rise up and complete God’s work here on earth, each with new scripture and revelations..

Both are clearly non-Trinitarian. While Mormonism does teach three gods, they are non-biblical creatures, separate beings, twice born through acts of sex…except the Holy Ghost.. he was only born as a spirit being..

They both have to earn their ‘salvation.’ And both teach that when the leader has spoken, the think has been done. Just obey. Yes, they are certainly more Muslim than Christian.



Please!

Will you do two things for the ministry today…


First
Help us out financially

You can give a gift by clicking
Donation
on the front page of our website

http://www.saintsalive.com/  

you can give directly through PayPal by sending your gift to

gifts@saintsalive.com

your gifts are still tax-deductible


Second

Share this newsletter with your own network of friends, on Facebook, Twitter or?

And invite them to sign up for our informative   e-Mail News/Update Reports

Visit the website regularly 

 we are adding new articles every day!

Write me at ed@saintsalive.com

Blind Man's Bluff

Blind Man’s Bluff

The last day of last month was my dreaded “Renew your driver’s license or else” deadline. I was pretty nervous about it because my 75 year old body happens to be a very high mileage one with bald tires and the wires sticking out the sides and a worn out, faulty exhaust system. I figure it’s got over 175,000 miles of rough road on it.

After 70, if the clerk has any reason to suspect you might be a danger to others on the road, you can be forced to take the written and possibly the driving tests over again, so you can imagine that I was a bit edgy. I have a permanent disability card and I was concerned that it might automatically trigger a driving testing.


I couldn’t even chance driving to the DMV, let alone take the driving test. My wife drove me there and I left my walker in the car and used a cane. We went in and I took a number, sat down and began to nurse a latte’ my wife had brought in for me.


They called my number exactly at the same time I had one of my fun spasms and the coffee went straight up in the air and landed in front of me, splattering the floor. Thirty seconds of dead silence echoed throughout the place. I think it had something to do with the big sign on the door. “No Food or Drinks Allowed.”


One of the clerks working the two lines came around with a mop and began cleaning up. I apologized and asked if it was going to cost me any points on my license. She looked up and without a smile warned me not to get in her line.


Well, the short of it was that in spite of my obvious difficulties, I walked out of there with a new license and another 5 year reprieve, knowing that unless things change, I probably will not be using it any time soon.


The actual reason I chose that particular, remote office was that my father got his last driver’s license there when he was in his late 80s. It was kind of special. Dad was blind at the time. I told him it was crazy to think he, being blind, could get a driver’s license. Nevertheless, he was determined that he wanted one last license, even if he didn’t have a car or could see the dash board of one, if he had it.


He finally badgered me into driving his even older friend, Red and him there one day. He left his white cane home and used a regular cane. Red went first and with his deep voice, shouted out all the letters on line 6 perfectly and did an equally great job with the colors and the red dot.


As Red came back with a broad beam of a smile, holding his new license, I walked up to the clerk with dad, so he would actually get to the counter. When it came to signing his name on the card, he did a perfect job and when she had him stick his face in the machine, he repeated Red’s answers perfectly. She said, “oops you read line 6 instead of 4, but that’s ok.” She gave him the license anyway.

I pointed dad to the wall where he stood for his photo, with a wide happy grin. He may have been blind, but he was still in charge.

Christian Apologetics

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS

Ed Decker

 

I want to share about Christian "Apologetics"  and embold you in your witness of the truth of the real gospel to those lost in spiritual darkness and even those mired in some of those spiritual gray areas.



As I launch forth, it is probably a good idea to let you know that this work of apologetics isn't always popular. Obviously, the cultist isn't going to be thrilled that you now know things he wishes you never did, and surprisingly, many fellow Christians will be frowning upon your new-found zeal to defend the faith once given.



In fact, you would be amazed at the number of well meaning Christians who find the defense of the faith just too embarrassing and negative for them to try out.



They say, "It's too unloving. God sees their hearts. Who are we to judge?" And they stand by and let a lie become the norm because they will not speak out with an apology or defense for the doctrines and purity of our faith. Let's take the time right up front and define the world of Christian apologetics and Polemics.



APOLOGETICS: from the Greek 'Apo' (for) and 'Logeo' (to speak): To speak for or To speak on behalf of. Webster: "Systematic argumentative discourse in defense (as of a doctrine). Defense of the faith."



POLEMICS: "An agressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another (as in denouncing heresy)."



The Bible tells us in Jude 3:



" Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. "



Paul tells us in Phil. 1:7:



"...It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me."



In 2 Tim. 2:15, Paul says:



" Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."



Further, he says:



"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage --with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Tim. 4:2)



With these Biblical exhortations in mind, we see that it is our Christian duty to fulfill our commission from the Lord. We become defenders of the faith. as we witness to those lost in darkness and especially to those who bring those false teachings to the world we seek for Christ.



The Bible brings us a great cloud of witnesses in all ages who have been



Defending The Faith in Isreal



In the Biblical account of Elijah's encounter with the prophets of Baal, we find that Baal worship had been introduced into Israel and Elijah stood before the people and cried out:



"How long halt you between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him."



He then challenged the prophets of Baal to call down fire from Baal upon the sacrifice that they had prepared. Although they called on Baal from morning to evening, leaping upon the altar and slashing themselves, nothing happened.



Elijah derided them, saying,



"Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awakened."



Then Elijah called down fire from God which consumed not only the sacrifice, but the altar stones and the water in the ditch around the altar.(1 Kings 18)



What Did Jesus Say?



Jesus, in Matthew 12:34, 39, spoke of the religious leaders of His day:



"O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things?...an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign,"



In Matt. 13:15, He said:



"For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."



In Matt. 15:7 he called the scribes and Pharisees "hypocrites" and in verse 9,



"...in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."



In chapter 21, He related the parable of wicked husbandmen against the religious leaders of Israel. In Matt. 23:23-25, 27-28, 33; He says:



"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices --mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law --justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.



You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.



"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.



..."Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.



In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.



.."You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?



So many are willing to hear the words of the Jesus of peace and faith, but are reticent to hear the Jesus who upbraided those teachers who would lead their followers into darkness.(blind leaders of the blind, Matt.15:14)



The Apostles Speak Out



Next we find the defenders of the faith, the " Apostles and Disciples of Jesus who boldly rebukes the false teachers of their day. The first of these apologists," Peter in Acts 2:14-41, 3:12-26, 4:8-12; and Stephen in Acts 6:8, 10; 7:1-60 spoke forcefully against the Jews.



In Acts 13:8-12, Paul condemned sorcery and spoke against the Jewish leaders in Acts 13:16-46; 14:1-4; 17:1-4 and reasoned with them out of the scriptures in their synagogues. Also in Acts 17:16-34, Paul contended with the Jews and then against paganism with the Greeks. Then to the Galatians he defended his Apostleship and the teaching of grace against the Judaizers.



The Early Church Fathers



The strong words of correction did not end with Christ and the Apostles. After they were gone from the scene, great men of God rose up to defend the church when it was considered illegal.



First they had to defend the faith against the Jews and afterwards against paganism and later heresies. The first of these were Quadratus (Bishop of Athens) and Aristedes (Philosopher of Athens) who wrote a defense of Christianity addressed to Emperor Hadrian c. 117 A.D.



Between 117 and 138 A.D., Hegesippus wrote about the heresies of Simeon, Cleobus, Gorthoeus, Masbotheus, Menander, Marcion, Carpocrates, Valentinus, Basilides and Saturnilius and also the Jewish heresies of the Essenes, Galileans, Hemereobaptists, Samaritans, Saducees and Pharisees.



Later Justin Martyr wrote his first apology to Emperor Antonius Pius c. 138 A.D. Tatian wrote against the Greeks c.163 A.D. Justin wrote his second apology to the Emperors, his dialog with Trypho (to the Jews) and his Hortatory address to the Greeks. At about this time, Athenagoras and Tatian wrote their apologies.



Melito of Sardis wrote a discourse to Emperor Antonius around 166 A.D. During the same period, Dionysius of Corinth and Philip of Gortyna wrote against Marcion, and Theophilus of Antioch wrote against Marcion and others. Apollinaris, Bishop of Hierapolis wrote five books against the Greeks, two books against the Jews and another against the Phrygian heresy and Montanus. Musanus Modestus (disciple of Justin) wrote an elegant work to some of the brethren who had swerved from the truth to the heresy of the Encratites and Tatianus.



Irenaeus, Tertillian and Origen



Between 170 and 220, Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons wrote 'On Knowledge' against the Greeks and 'Against Heresies' or 'Overthrow of False Doctrine' in which he outlines and refutes the doctines of the Gnostics, including Simon Magus, Cerinthus, Valentinus, Marcion and others.



Approximately 180, Rhoto, a disciple of Tatian, wrote against Marcion and other false teachers. Miltiades the Historian wrote against Montanus and the Paraphrygian heresy of Montanism. Apollonius of Rome wrote against the Phrygian heresy and Montanus. Serapion, Bishop of Antioch, wrote against the Phrygians.



Around 194, Tertullian wrote his apology and in 205, Clement of Alexandria refuted the Greek Heresiarchs. Between 205-250 Origen had discourse with Beryllus, winning him back from heresy to the truth. He wrote a reply against Celsus the Epicurian, called 'The True Doctrine,' and is also credited with debating the Arabians and later the Helcisaites, leading many of these back to orthodoxy. Between 250-256, Cyprian of Carthage wrote against Novatus and Cornelius of Rome wrote against Novatus and the heresies of the Cathari.



Apologetics In The Councils



During this same period, Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, wrote against the Novatians, the Sabellians and later against the schism of Nepos. At the Council of Antioch, a former Sophist refuted Paul of Samosata. In 314 the Council of Arles was held against the Donatists, and in 325, the Council of Nicea was held to deal with the Arian heresy.



These are just some of the Church Fathers up to Nicea that defended the Faith against the Jews, paganism, and heresies. Had it not been for their polemic and apologetic works, we would know little indeed of these great men from the first four centuries of Christianity, as this sort of defense of the faith makes up the greater part of their extant writings.



God Calls The Reformers



In addition to these, a host of great men from every age like Augustine, Martin Luther and others have spoken out against heresies, excesses and misuse of power inside and outside the church.



Not a few of them died martyr's deaths to defend the faith we take for granted!



Among the tenets they so vigorously defended were

the Deity of Christ,

the Trinity,

the sovereignty of God,

the inerrancy of scripture,

the depravity of man,

the certainty of final retribution,



and against Gnosticism, a terrible heresy which is again creeping into Christian doctrine.



Apologists In Our Time



In our own age, men like Charles Finney, and Dwight L. Moody who spoke out against Freemasonry in the church and immorality, have taken a strong stand for the faith.



Today, we stand therefore with those who have gone before us and say: " Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men."--2 Cor.5:11; ....to Flee the Wrath to come!



"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor.6:17-18)



The Simplicity Of The Gospel



As we study the mighty manipulations of men in the things of God, we can only shake our heads and wonder what a mess some have made of the gospel. The Apostle Paul commented, "



"I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that.



I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.



But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.



For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough." (2Cor. 11: 1- 4)



The key here is The Simplicity of the Gospel. The Bible is not obtuse. It gives the reader a clear, simple picture of the truth.



The aberrant religious groups cloud the clarity of the Word and bring chaos to the soul. Let's look at the simplicity of the gospel for a moment.



Believe God's Word when He says:



1. There is only one true God. (Deut. 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11; 1 Cor. 8:4)



2. God is a Spirit Who fills the heavens and the earth.(Jer. 23:24, John 4:24)



3. God is not a man.(Num. 23:19, Job 9:32, Hosea 11:9)



4. Jesus is Almighty God manifest in the flesh. (John 1:1-3, 14, 18; Col.1:15-17; 1 Tim. 3:16)



5. Jesus pre-existed in heaven. Man didn't. (John 8:23, 1 Cor.15:46-49, Gen.2:7, Zech.12:1)



6. We become children of God by adoption. (Rom. 8:14-16, Gal. 4:5-6, Eph. 1:5)



7. The gospel (good news) by which we are saved is that Jesus provided forgiveness of sins, resurrection and eternal life through His finished work.(1 Cor.15:1-4, Heb.1:3, John 19:30, Col.1:20-22)



8. We're saved by grace through faith unto good works as God's workmanship. (Eph.2:8-10)



9. He makes us new creatures as the Author and Finisher of our faith. (2 Cor.5:17-21, Heb.12:2)



So, what must one do to be saved?



1. Confess your sins to God and turn from them.(Rom.3:23, 1 John 1:8-9)

2. Confess with your mouth the the Lord Jesus and believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead. (Rom.10:9)

3. Ask Jesus to come into your life and make you what He wants you to be. (Phil.2:13, 3:9; Rom.12:1-3)