Books and eBooks by the Director
Dear Gary, Let me say that it has been an
absolute joy to have discovered your website. I originally caught
a response of yours while I was read through one of the
newsgroups that I follow. (I don't remember which one alt.bible
maybe?). I was rather taken by how you (in your newsgroup comment
& the information in DTL) spoke with such intelligence and
rationalization.
I have just recently (three weeks ago to be exact) been saved. Though I had a religious up bringing (Catholic), I drifted away from my faith at about the age of 18 or 19. I was an agnostic all my adult life. I am 34 years old, married and the father of a beautiful 5 year old daughter. My wife has always been a Christian (of the Baptist denomination) and has always wanted me to attend church with her. As a family man I knew that I wanted my daughter exposed to Christianity, even though I had my own problems with believing. So to set the example for my daughter I started to attend, with my family, a Baptist church.
I found the Pastor to be an absolutely phenomenal speaker. I had several one on one conversations with him, all the time thinking to myself that I wouldn't be accepting Christ as my savior but rather that I would be supplying him with a lifetime supply of sermons. I began to become fascinated with religion. I found my agnostic thoughts began to grow to extremely deep levels. I began to read the Bible for the first time in my life. It wasn't long before I was insatiably hungry for apologetics! Your website was very instrumental to me. (I began to think I should make it my home page because I visited so much).
I enjoyed it for not only its content and information, but also I found I could identify with you. Though I'm not a powerlifter, I have been bodybuilding for several years now. And the icing on the cake...a Trekkie! Keep up the good work! God bless you and live long and prosper :-)
Thank you! Allen
Comment: I thank God that He enable me to have a small part in Allen’s conversion (1Cor 3:6). May God enable Allen to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Peter 3:18).
Dear brother Gary: Greetings, and peace to you in the Name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. I found the article about your experiences with Bible versions rather interesting [My Bible Versions Experiences].
As I think I have told you in times past, I am a staunch KJV reader, but I do not attack others who use a different version. I will, however, defend the KJV when people level unfounded attacks against it.
It seems from your article that the main reason you do not use the KJV is because of the "thees," "thous" and other archaic words. This is very understandable. At least you didn't say as others do and claim that the KJV is full of errors.
The way I look at it, whatever Bible will best draw people into a closer relationship with the LORD, then that is the Bible they should use….
You mentioned the Modern KJV in your article, but made no mention of the 21st Century KJV that came out recently. The ad claims that this is the best KJV printed. Have you ever looked through this Bible? I was wondering what it was like, but really don't have the finances to take the chance and purchase one. Since I'm an inmate it is also rather impossible for me to go to the local bookstore and peruse through what they have.
If you ever do examine this Bible I would like to hear your opinion of it in a future issue of Darkness to Light…. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. Keep up the good work. Here, there, or in the air. May all you do be done for HIS glory. THE LORD BLESS THEE, AND KEEP THEE (Num 6:24).
G.A.; Muskegon, MI
Response: I only recently heard of the 21st Century King James Version (KJ21). It claims to be an updating of the King James Version. But, in my opinion, it does not update the KJV enough.
All the "thee’s’ and "thou’s" of the KJV are retained, along with the "-est" and "-eth" verb endings and such older English terms as: forthwith, straightway, wilt, thence, ado, and damsel.
Sample verse: "Why make ye this ado and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth" (Mark 5:39).
The KJ21 is based on the Textus Receptus and is basically an accurate version; but I believe it is still too difficult to read. A full review of the KJ21 is posted on this Web site at: KJ21: Initial Impression.
Dear Sir, After reading your review of
Dr. Wright's book in the newsletter, I purchased a copy [No Place for Sovereignty.
It has really opened my eyes to the corruption of Scripture by the Arminian camp. I am a solid 5 point Calvinist, and attend a SB Church. I am a Seminary student at a SBC Seminary, and a minority due to my Calvinistic Theology. (Surprise, Surprise!) I love your site and look forward to each issue of the newsletter. Keep up the good work!
Sola Scriptura, C.L.C.
Response: I know how the writer feels; it was the same way when I attended Denver Seminary. What really helped me is I got involved in a Bible study where all of us (about five!) were Calvinists. We met at Bob Wright’s house and he led the study. Once a week meeting with four other Calvinists was a real refresher!
My friend, Thank YOU for the wonderful
work you do at "Darkness to Light"—I consider you
to truly be a blessing. May God strengthen you in body, mind and
soul as you work for Him, now and forever. S.G.
Hi Gary/Reepicheep! Have just begun
browsing through your Web site and, I must say you have some very
well put together articles. Have you bookmarked and will return
when I have a bit more time, and will give everything a more
thorough read.
Thanks so much for being there; the more Web pages there are that offer a more realistic view of the Christian faith, Christ Jesus and Who He is, the better! God's richest blessings, J.J.
I found your page through your newsgroup
article on the Star Trek Voyager newsgroup. I am a
Christian also, and it is so refreshing to see I am not the only
one caught in the "I love ST, but don't always like what
they convey" rut. Keep up the great work! I am referring
your site to another ST loving Christian friend of mine.
God bless you. I am signing up for your newsletter. R.B.
Response: The writer is referring to a message I posted in the "alt.tv.star-trek.voyager" Newsgroup titled, Good Bye Star Trek Voyager?" I was commenting on the episode "Mortal Coil." To me it was designed to deny life after death, along with contradicting previous episodes of Star Trek which seemed to affirm life after death and a distinction between body and soul.
You have a great Web Site! I appreciate
the thought and study evidenced in the articles I read. Keep up
the good work. Your theology is much like John MacArthur's. I
hope this is a compliment! C.M.
Response: Yes it is. And thank you!
Dear Sirs, I really like your Web site. I
am a new pastor, started my first church near end of September. I
am doing a study on the
Trinity tonight in Bible Study—the info. you have is
very concise and easy to understand. Keep up the good work!!!
Rev. C.H.
Hi, I just wanted to write you briefly,
as a fellow believer, and one who has been in the Church of Christ, in the
past.... To tell you how much I like your Web site....I just
think your site is very Scriptural and doctrinally sound. I have
bookmarked it and will refer to it often. God bless, Marshall
Dear DTL, I just finished looking at your
Web page, specifically the section on essentials of "the
faith." What a great job!! Biblical, yet understandable to
the lay person. If it is all right I would like to feature DTL on
my Christian homage next week with several links to your
material, especially the essentials and Scripture Studies.
Please let me know if that would be all right with you. I will in no way take anything of yours, just make links for people to look at your stuff. I have wanted to write a concise essentials like your beliefs but haven't made the time and found the right resources to do it for the lay person to understand.
God bless you and thank you so much for all of your fine work and glorifying our Savior and His Word. Sincerely, G.T.
Response: Links to DTL’s Web site from other sites are always appreciated! :-)
This is a great web site. I am a leader
for the youth retreat for my church and I have to do a devotional
on the Trinity. I will be using the information you have on your
web site to create the devotional. I like the view point from
other religions as well. What a great witnessing tool. Thanks,
L.L.; Louisville, OH
Hi, Been browsing your web site over the
last few days. GREAT JOB! It's obvious that you have put a lot of
thought, time, and hard work into it. Although we don't agree
100% (and that's OK) I was really impressed with the way you laid
out your essential articles of faith. Take Care and have a great
day, Berry
I found your site while stumbling around
the web a few days ago and have only now had a chance to come
back and look it over. I am a man of faith like yourself and
appreciate everything I've read here.... C.M. in Vermont
I found your web site by accident. I
entered "Majority Text" into Infoseek and your web site
was the first to show up. I have never responded to anything on
the Internet before, but I just have to tell you how much I
appreciate your site.
I was surprised at how closely your views matched my own, and I have struggled to develop my convictions. But from the Majority Text, to the New King James, to Jay Green’s interlinear, to prophetic date setting, to Star Trek, to the charismatic movement, to Baptist principles, I have enjoyed reading your web site.
It becomes easy to fall into Elijah’s mindset, "I’m all alone." But the Lord says, "No, I have many servants, here’s one that thinks like you do." Thank you for all your hard work.
The Lord bless, H.W.; Camp Carrol, Korea
A Word of Encouragement. I checked out
your page. You are doing a great job. God bless your obedience to
Him. B.R.
Notes:
Letters received via e-mail are preceded by .
All Scripture references from: The New King James Version. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982, unless otherwise indicated.
Books and eBooks by Gary F. Zeolla, the Director of Darkness to Light
The above letters were published in Darkness to Light
newsletter
and posted on this Web site in 1998.
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