My dear readers,
1. “The Reason Why” returns!
This excellent “Gospel Gem,” lost from view for many years, is at last making a comeback! My first printing of 10,000 copies about thirty years ago was exhausted in no time. In 1988, I changed the format of Robert Laidlaw’s booklet, presenting it in thirty-four “chapters,” each chapter carrying a Gospel appeal. The booklet proved itself by the speed of sales, so our stocks ran out again.
Now, at last, the reprint is on the way! When? By the end of this month, July! This time, it comes in two sizes: a “passport size” to fit the pocket, and a larger print for easier reading - good news for old folks! Reformation Banner Publishers are pleased to make this booklet available for our members’ evangelistic outreach. To our readers, please refill your stocks and use each copy with prayer. God bless all readers.
2. The reason why I have adapted this timeless Gospel Gem
In 1947, the year I began my medical studies, I was introduced to “The Reason Why.” Over the years I have read with undiminished profit, many times over, this captivating Gospel exposition which has helped countless thousands find salvation in Jesus Christ. With greatest pleasure, therefore, I have serialised Robert Laidlaw’s booklet for easy reading over five weeks, clearly setting forth each day the way of salvation, to meet the need of even the busiest student and businessman. I append below a brief biographical sketch of Mr Robert Laidlaw, who in his time fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith. To God be the glory!
Robert A Laidlaw, CBE, founder of the Farmer’s Trading Company is widely known as one of New Zealand’s most successful and respected businessmen. Born in Scotland in 1885, he was one year old when his parents migrated to New Zealand. At the age of twenty-three he commenced a mail order business in Auckland, which grew into a retail organization with a staff of 2,700. It was Robert Laidlaw’s concern for his staff which originally prompted the writing of “The Reason Why” as a testimony to his Christian faith. By 1969, over 16 million copies of this booklet had been printed in more than 30 languages, and thousands of lives had been changed by its Gospel message. A dynamic speaker and inspiring leader, Robert Laidlaw has been described as “one of the world’s great Christian laymen.”
3. The Reason Why – How is your soul today?
Suppose that a young man sent his fiancee a diamond ring costing $10,000, placing it in a little case which the jeweller threw in for nothing. How disappointed he would be, if upon meeting her a few days later, she says, “Sweetheart, that was a lovely little box you sent me. To take special care of it, I promise to keep it in a safe place so that no harm shall come to it.”
Rather ridiculous, isn’t it? Yet it is just as foolish for men and women to be spending all their time and thought on their bodies, which are only cases containing the real self, the soul, which, the Bible tells us, will persist long after our bodies have crumbled to dust. The soul is of infinite value.
Hear what Jesus said of the soul: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” In Christ’s estimate, man’s soul is something incomparably more valuable than the whole world. Ponder this thought.
There is more, far more, to life than meets the eye: there is life beyond life, life which transcends death. That life is not to be found in this world. It is in God, and to Him we must go.
THOUGHT: Life is more than a good home and three square meals a day.
PRAYER: Lord, help me not to neglect my “diamond” for its “box.”
(Reprinted from “The Reason Why”)
4. CN 600 churches participate in Evolution Sunday
Friday Church News Notes, February 16, 2007, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143
Nearly 600 churches participated in the second annual Evolution Sunday in America on February 11, the day before Charles Darwin’s birthday. These churches claim that Darwinian evolution is compatible with Christianity and the Bible, though they admit that you can’t take the Bible literally if you want to be an evolutionist. Tom Boyd, an emeritus professor of philosophy and religious studies and an ordained Presbyterian minister, says that you can “believe that God is the creator and accept evolutionary theory” as long as you don’t “take the Bible as an inerrant historical text” (“Churches Gear up for Evolution Sunday,” Cushing Daily Citizen, Cushing, Okla., Feb. 2). Though the Bible is not a science textbook, when it touches on scientific matters it is perfectly accurate, and this cannot be said for any other ancient book. The late scientist Henry Morris demonstrated the amazing scientific accuracy of the Bible’s oldest book, the book of Job, which was written more than 3,500 years ago. Job, for example, says that light has a way and darkness has a place (Job 38:19 ). “That is, light is not to be located in a certain place or situation. Light is traveling! It dwells in a ‘way,’ always on the way to someplace else. It is always moving. When light stops, there is darkness. Thus, darkness is static, staying in place; but light is dynamic, dwelling in a way” (Morris, The Remarkable Record of Job). – Reprinted from Christian News March 26, 2007.
God bless all readers.
Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor