winston’s folly - lrltv.orgpage 252, phillip g. clampitt. when it comes to challenging islam, our...
TRANSCRIPT
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Winston’s folly
11-15-10
2 0 0 5
There are times when I sit before this computer and wonder:
when it comes to ministry, what can I possibly say to our donors
that I haven‟t yet said? This is one of those times. Actually, I think
I‟m mentally exhausted. The challenge of trying to explain why
we‟re committed to using Israel as a launching pad for challenging
Islam is really draining me. Few are those who see this as a poten-
tially successful strategy for leading millions to Christ. Frankly,
were it not for the God who‟s sustained us these 31 years, I‟d be
almost tempted to say our determination could sink us. Why do I
say this? Judging from the paucity of responses to this project, what
else am I to conclude? I think most people probably think the entire
concept woefully flawed (and dangerous) and me little better than
mad. That‟s the price to be paid for being a little imaginative, I sup-
pose … and maybe a bit intuitive too.
There‟s precious comfort to be had in this though; for one, his-
tory tells me I‟m not alone. Years ago while reading the biography
of Sir Winston Churchill, the Lord impressed upon my mind the
price innovators often have to pay for thinking outside the box. Let
me tell you what I mean. Among other things I was enthralled to
discover Churchill is credited for having invented a weapon used to
this day by the army – I‟m referring to the tank. When it made its
debut, however, it was called, derisively, Winston’s folly. Nobody
but Churchill thought it would work. Here‟s how one author put it.
“Sir Winston Churchill is best known as a great statesman, au-
thor, or perhaps, a painter. Few know that he was also a successful
innovator. His special genius led to a variety of innovations: a navi-
gational tool used to guide pilots, the idea of dropping tin foil to
confuse enemy radar, armor plated buses, and even the artificial
harbors used on D-day. He was also known as the father of the
modern tank. It was Churchill who, during the bloody trench war-
fare of World War I, thought of the tank as a practical means to end
the madness. Although Churchill said that no single man could be
said to have invented the tank, it was known at the time as Wins-
ton’s folly. And with good reason: He was the one who provided the
idea and money for the endeavor. But today, no one scoffs at the
transformation of warfare wrought by Winston’s folly.
“The invention of the tank teaches us lessons on several counts.
As Churchill freely acknowledged in his memoirs, the idea was not
entirely novel. H.G. Wells had speculated about just such a vehicle
as early as 1903. In fact, the tools used for the innovation were al-
ready well known: The technology for armor plating had been used
in ships, the internal combustion engine had proven reliable, and
caterpillar tracks had been used on other vehicles. The key was to
combine the various devices into a new and useful weapon. This
was no easy task.
“Winston’s folly is an example of how many innovations
emerge from novel combinations of already existing ideas. Moreo-
ver, his discovery provides a splendid example of the hurdles
faced by most innovators. He discussed the project at length in
The M1 Abrams
(You’ve come a long way
baby)
PAGE 1
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Winston’s folly PAGE 2
Churchill:
With Poland’s Sikorski and
France’s de Gaulle at a tank
demonstration in England.
emerge from novel combinations of already existing ideas. Moreo-
ver, his discovery provides a splendid example of the hurdles faced
by most innovators. He discussed the project at length in his memoirs
of the First World War.
“I thus took personal responsibility for the expenditure of the
public money involved … It was a serious decision to spend this
large sum of money on a project so speculative, about the merits of
which no high expert military or naval authority had been convinced.
The matter, moreover, was entirely outside the scope of my own De-
partment, or of any normal powers which I possessed. Had the tanks
proven wholly abortive or never accepted or never used in war by the
military authorities, and had I been subsequently summoned before a
Parliamentary Committee, I could have offered no effective defence
to the charge that I had wasted public money on a matter which was
not in any way my business and in regard to which I had not received
expert advice in any responsible military quarter.”
“… Any number of different experts and committees had re-
jected the idea. No one except Churchill thought it
would work. In a similar fashion, disbelievers often attempt to
thwart innovators in organizations. Innovators naturally seem to first
run into the scoffers, then the cynics, followed by the critics, and
finally the surprised.” Communicating For Managerial Effectiveness,
page 252, Phillip G. Clampitt.
When it comes to challenging Islam, our Ministry has already
run into the first three – scoffers, cynics, critics. Some of those res-
ponding to our newsletters, however, fall into none of these three
categories and have truly valuable comments, which makes rebutting
them all the more painful. Take this one, received a few hours ago.
“Quick note. I likewise have grave reservations. I think of
two things; true, the Old Testament was about conquest, but the
New Testament uses different methods to conquer: Jesus’ me-
thod was to empathize with and draw people to him. Paul like-
wise was to be all things to all people for the sake of winning
them. For example, the health message seems like an entrance
point, building on the commonalities we have in health/dietary
practices.
(1) People don’t like to be challenged with “our prophet is
greater than your prophet.” In general people need to see
these things and be convinced without others’ pointing it
out “in their faces.” People need to save face.
(2) This sounds like Adventists versus the rest of the world
rather than Jesus the need of the world. Jesus should be
the draw and the Holy spirit the agent and love the mes-
sage.
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Another thought. Besides the drawbacks of danger and ex-pense, would it be possible to replace a live shoot with already
existing footage while getting the same message across.”
Via e-mail I‟d responded somewhat hastily in the following
words:
“Just got your letter this morning. A few thoughts hit me as I
read. If Elijah had had your sentiments, he never would have chal-
lenged the prophets of Baal.
Jesus the lamb is also the lion of the tribe of Judah. At times
we forget this. His children reflect His character. The softer sex
tends to identify, I suspect, more with the lamb. Us males, well ...
you understand.
Somewhere in the scriptures I‟m pretty sure I read: „there is a
time and a place for everything.‟ I rather suspect a time for chal-
lenging is in there too.”
That was short, too short. Looking at it again, I believe this let-
ter is worthy of a much more in-depth response, so let‟s give it a try.
First of all, Anyone who‟s taken the time to listen to the Subway
Sermon can attest that it is all about Christ, or more specifically, it
is all about prophecies that point to Christ – i.e., where He would be
born, why He suffered, when He would come the first time, etc. The
Seventh-day Adventist Church is never mentioned, neither is the
name Ellen White, not in the sermon, not on our posters. True, in
the sermon we point to The (New, Illustrated) Great Controversy
and anybody taking the time could easily discover the identity of the
author, but we don‟t identify her.
Q. Why?
A. Mrs. White is not our focus here. In this sermon we‟re hig-
hlighting the gift of prophecy and the superiority of Chris-
tianity to anything Islam has. In so doing we‟re definitely
setting the stage for Sister White, but the emphasis in this
sermon is not on her – it is on the Bible.
Speaking of challenges: in deliberately highlighting the virtual
non-existence of the prophetic gift in Islam, I believe we‟re being
obedient to the following: “The people of the world are worshiping
false gods. They are to be turned from their false worship, not by
hearing denunciation of their idols, but by beholding something
better. God’s goodness is to be made known.” Christ’s Object Les-
sons, page 299. So, without apology let me say it again – the Sub-
way Sermon does challenge Islam. It most definitely challenges
Mohammed‟s claim to be a prophet, and, yes, it‟s deliberately done
in a way that highlights the chasm between Islam‟s paucity and
Christianity‟s abundance of prophetic scriptures. And why not?
Could someone tell me what‟s so bad about a challenge? Aren‟t
thousands of belligerent Muslims taking to the streets of London
and other cities across Europe challenging the tenets and moreˊs of
their host countries today? Besides these, it seems like just yester-
day that we were treated to images of Westerners having their heads
Winston’s folly
PAGE 3
Mrs. White … not our focus in
the Subway Sermon
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and other cities across Europe challenging the tenets and moreˊs of their host countries today? Besides these, it seems like just yesterday
we were being fairly regularly treated to images of Westerners hav-
ing their heads cut off in what could easily be termed a series of
diabolical Islamic rituals. Do you see Islam apologizing for this?
Today in a clear show of Islamic unity and force, pious Mus-
lims even block Madison Avenue at midday for prayer. “In your
face. Like it or not – we’re here. And, oh yes,
by the way … we’re growing.” That‟s their message. I
mean, it‟s almost like Goliath taunting Israel with the challenge: “I
defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight
together.” Don‟t you hear him? Are you deaf? Can‟t you hear Islam
shouting its superiority to every religion on the face of the earth?
How long is Christianity to listen to this frothing giant without res-
ponding? Come on, please, somebody tell me: how long are we to
sit like a pack of cowards with our tails between our feet while Is-
lam, this uncircumcised Philistine, rants and raves like a madman?
Since nobody seems prepared to fight him, I will – and not with
bombs and bullets either. The solution isn‟t there. It was General
Douglas Macarthur who correctly said: “it must be of the spirit if
we are to save the flesh.” What bombs and bullets can‟t do, the word
of the living God will. And I don‟t need five stones either. One
stone from the Bible will do. Isaiah 41:23 will take off Islam‟s head,
I‟m sure of it. “Shew the things that are to come
hereafter, that we may know that ye are
gods.” This is still God‟s challenge, as fresh and as fragrant as a
morning lily plucked from the Garden of Gethsemane. So fresh, in
fact, you can still see the dew on it.
I‟ve said it before and I‟ll say it again, Isaiah 41:23 reveals Is-
lam‟s impotence as nothing else can. So, yes, our Subway Sermon
and posters do challenge Islam. It‟s a challenge akin to Elijah chal-
lenging the prophets of Baal, but it‟s also about beholding some-
thing better, i.e., it‟s about exalting God‟s precious gift to mankind,
the gift of prophecy. As for saving face: might not the shame of Is-
lam‟s ineptitude resonate with all watching this video – Muslims
and non-Muslims alike – and lead to a mass departure from error?
From Moscow to Berlin, Hong Kong to Hungary, might not
these subway posters reap a copious harvest for our Lord? Call this
project whatever derisive term you wish, but I KNOW exalting
Isaiah 41:23 before the world will work. God gave me that verse,
plucked it from the garden and put it in my hands. Why do that, if
He doesn‟t intend its fragrance to spread all over the world?
My dear sister, thanks so much for this letter. Brief but astute, it
has helped refine my thoughts on this entire challenge. Oh, one
more thing. Shooting the sermon in a studio makes it impossible for
me to honestly say: “I‟m standing here today at (or in front of) the
Dome of the Rock in Israel.” That sentence plus the image of the
Dome in the background, are essential to capturing the attention of
Muslims. There‟s no cheap way that I can see to mount this chal-
lenge. Filming it in Israel is key. Mounting the posters on the sub-
way systems of the world (beginning in New York City) is, like-
Winston’s folly
PAGE 4
Madison Avenue, NY.
Muslims taking time to pray
(and halt traffic)
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Winston’s folly PAGE 5
Muslims. There‟s no cheap way to mount this challenge. Filming it
in Israel is key. Mounting the posters on the subway systems of the
world (beginning in New York City) is, likewise, key. If we‟re to
challenge Islam – if we‟re to grip the attention of every one of its
1.57 billion adherents – the posters must be ubiquitous.
“That‟s all well and good, David,” some may say, “you talk a
good talk, but where‟s the money to pull this off? Where‟s the mon-
ey to go to Israel? Where‟s the money to put up the posters?
Where‟s the money to print the first million copies of The (New,
Illustrated) Great Controversy? You highlight this book in the
Subway Sermon, yet you don‟t have even one printed. Shouldn‟t
you print these books first, before going forward?” The quick an-
swer to this last question is this: who knows whether these posters
might not provoke such a demand for this book that Muslims them-
selves might pre-order it by the millions and be prepared to wait a
few months until the book is printed – especially if we offer them
one or two free DVDs for their wait?
No, I will not wait until the books are printed before going for-
ward, no more than Abraham waited until he could see the city
whose builder and maker is God, before going forth to claim it. “By
faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he
should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not
knowing whither he went. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of
promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac
and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10
For he looked
for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is
God.” Hebrews 11:8-10.
As for the other questions posed (about where the money is to
come from) let me say this: I believe God. I believe He gave me this
verse as a weapon – that‟s what I said, a weapon – to be used
against Islam. Have we forgotten the word of God? “4For the wea-
pons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holds; 5Casting down imaginations, and
every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chr-
ist.” II Corinthians 10:4,5. Having given us this weapon, I believe
God expects us now to perform every duty required to launch it.
First is the duty of raising funds for this project. In writing as
extensively as we have, we‟ve brought this project to the awareness
of many SDAs. But we‟re not stopping here. We‟re also strengthen-
ing our website. We‟re tearing down our home page and making it
stronger. We‟re revamping the God & The Muslims section. We‟re
laying out this project so that Sunday-keepers, Muslims and atheists
might see it and (i) be charmed, then (ii) inspired to give.
So how will we draw them to our site? Easy. Didn‟t we draw
over 20,000 with one well placed internet ad earlier this year? Back
then this project wasn‟t pressing me as it is today and our site didn‟t
reflect the urgency I now feel. All that‟s about to change. It‟s cost-
ing us over $2,000 to make the necessary changes to our website,
but God willing we should have these in place by Thanksgiving
東京都 (That’s “Tokyo” in Japanese)
Posters for
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ing us over $2,000 to make the necessary changes – changes that
could be in place by Thanksgiving Day. Properly laid out, the sky‟s
the limit for this campaign. Who knows what Muslim closet-
Christian, awash in petrodollars, might see our site and choose to
respond with a gift? For that matter, who knows which military
mind might grasp the wisdom behind everything I‟ve been saying
for the past several months and take it to his/her superiors? Sensing
the futility of bullets, a military mind might be the quickest to see
the validity of our project and thus push to get it funded.
Before we go to the next duty, let me tell you a story. It‟s
something I heard some thirty years ago. It‟s about a truck that was
stuck in a tunnel. Its height must have exceeded the allowed limit
and sure enough with its excessive load it was jammed deep under-
ground in this tunnel. Engineers were called in to fix this problem
and each had his complex, convoluted theory as to how to get the
truck out. Each involved heavy machinery and countless man-
hours. A little lad, hearing about the problem, said simply: “why
don‟t they let some of the air out of the tires?” And it worked. The
moral of the story: thinking outside the box can
sometimes solve perplexing problems. To those
wetting their pants over Islam‟s barbarity and penchant for blood,
nothing but appeasement will do. For those of us with some testos-
terone in our blood (and a little faith, mind you) one verse from the
quiver of God will do the trick. Let me think like a child, therefore,
and say it again. To my mind, this one verse (Isaiah 41:23) is tailor-
made for this modern day Goliath. Quite frankly, I can‟t wait to
prove it to the world.
“There you go again, David,” someone may say, “you‟re dodg-
ing the subject. Besides writing your newsletters and making your
presence felt on the internet, how do you intend getting the money
for this project?” Friend, the rest of the answer is to be found in: (i)
I Kings 17, (ii) Luke 18 and (iii) The Spirit of Prophecy.
Here Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal. “And it came to
pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in
the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send
rain upon the earth.” It begins with a promise … “I will send rain.”
You know the story. Elijah challenges the prophets – mocks them,
really. He prays for fire and fire comes instantly. When it‟s time for
him to pray for rain, however, it‟s a different story. The rain refuses
to come. Friend, I‟ve got a question. If rain is what God promised,
why should Elijah have had to pray for it at all? Why should he
have had to prostrate himself and beg for rain in verses 42 – 44
when the God of the universe had already promised rain in verse 1?
And now comes the real question. If it is indeed God who put
this verse, Isaiah 41:23, in my hands, then why should I have to
plead plead
And now comes the real question. If it is indeed God who put
Coming to www.lrltv.org:
A brand new flash video to intro-
duce our poster.
Winston’s Folly Page 6
I KINGS 17
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plead like a beggar on the streets for the funds to make this cam-
paign a reality? This is the doubt that hit me hard this week and left
me reeling in the ring. Doesn‟t Jesus say: “for your Father knoweth
what things ye have need of, before ye ask him”? Mathew 6:8. If He
knows, then why pray? It‟s a mystery, but evidently our Heavenly
Father enjoys being asked. That doesn‟t sound too good, does it?
Perhaps what I should say is that in the act of asking, our relation-
ship with Him gets stronger … and He absolutely enjoys that. So
we continue to ask.
“Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the
Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to
every one grass in the field.” Zechariah 10:1. “Ask ye of the Lord
rain in the time of the latter rain.” Do not rest satisfied that in the
ordinary course of the season, rain will fall. Ask for it. The growth
and perfection of the seed rests not with the husbandman. God
alone can ripen the harvest. But man‟s co-operation is required.
God‟s work for us demands the action of our mind, the exercise of
our faith. We must seek his favors with the whole
heart if the showers of grace are to come to
us. We should improve every opportunity of placing ourselves in
the channel of blessing. Christ has said, “Where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst. The convo-
cations of the church, as in camp-meetings, the assemblies of the
home church, and all occasions where there is personal labor for
souls, are God‟s appointed opportunities for giving the early and the
latter rain. {RH, March 2, 1897}
“But let none think that in attending these gatherings, their duty
is done. A mere attendance upon all the meetings that are held will
not in itself bring a blessing to the soul. It is not an immutable law
that all who attend general gatherings or local meetings shall re-
ceive large supplies from heaven. The circumstances may seem to
be favorable for a rich outpouring of the showers of grace. But God
himself must command the rain to fall. Therefore we should not be
remiss in supplication. We are not to trust to the ordinary working
of providence. We must pray that God will unseal
the fountain of the water of life. And we must our-
selves receive of the living water. Let us, with contrite hearts, pray
most earnestly that now, in the time of the latter rain, the showers of
grace may fall upon us. {RH, March 2, 1897}
What else did Sister White say about Elijah‟s prayer for rain?
“It was because Elijah was a man of large faith that God could use
him in this grave crisis in the history of Israel. As he prayed, his
faith reached out and grasped the promises of Heaven, and he per-
severed in prayer until his petitions were answered. He did not wait
for the full evidence that God had heard him, but was willing to
venture all on the slightest token of divine favor. And yet what he
was enabled to do under God, all may do in their sphere of activity
in God‟s service; for of the prophet from the mountains of Gilead it
is written: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and
“The convocations of the
church … are God’s ap-
pointed opportunities for
giving the early and the
latter rain.”
GEORGIA ON MY MIND
Winston’s folly PAGE 7
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was enabled to do under God, all may do in their sphere of activity
in God‟s service; for of the prophet from the mountains of Gilead it
is written: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and
he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the
earth by the space of three years and six months.” James 5:17.
“Faith such as this is needed in the world today – faith that
will lay hold on the promises of God‟s word and refuse to let go
until Heaven hears. Faith such as this connects us closely with
Heaven, and brings us strength for coping with the powers of dark-
ness. Through faith God‟s children have “subdued kingdoms,
wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of
lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword,
out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned
to flight the armies of the aliens.” Hebrews 11:33, 34. And through
faith we today are to reach the heights of God‟s purpose for us. “If
thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Mark 9:23.
“Faith is an essential element of prevailing prayer. “He that
cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him.” “If we ask anything according to
His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoev-
er we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of
Him.” Hebrews 11:6, 1 John 5:14, 15. With the persevering faith of
Jacob, with the unyielding persistence of Elijah, we may present
our petitions to the Father, claiming all that He has promised. The
honor of His throne is staked for the fulfill-
ment of His word. Prophets & Kings, pages 156 – 158.
LUKE 18
This week, as I have already hinted, like a boxer in the ring I
took a shot to the head and my knees buckled. I didn‟t fall on the
canvas, but for a few minutes I staggered around like a man on the
way down. I said to my prayer partner, “I feel like taking off my
weapons, wading into this river and just lying down. Let this river
take me wherever it chooses. I am so tired.” Friend, for a brief
moment I had become so disheartened, I felt that I could no longer
cling to the promises of God effectively, that I would merely be
going through the motions, that I had no real faith, and that tomor-
row would be as this day, with the heavens shut like brass over my
head. That‟s when the Holy Spirit inspired me to consider Elijah,
how he climbed upon that mountain and sent his servant seven
times to the summit to see if there was any sign from the Lord.
Elijah didn‟t quit when for the first six times the report came
back that there was no rain – nor should I, just because the letters
in our post office box barely have enough for us to exist, let alone
launch a campaign
Boxing … in the Bible?
You bet. Check out I Corin-
thians 9:26 for yourself.
Winston’s Folly PAGE 8
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mount a viable campaign against Islam. Evidently that‟s the lesson
God‟s trying to teach me – i.e., don‟t quit. Friend, things have be-
come so low, there‟s such a paucity of funds in our midst, that last
week I told our lone missionary in Jamaica that she‟d best look for
another job, that this ministry was incapable of sustaining her any
longer. Months ago I‟d made a pledge to God that I wouldn‟t put
my wife through another year of standing beside a husband whom
to all appearances surely seems to have lost his mind. To continue
paying our worker in Jamaica, no matter how precious the work
being performed, while not having enough to sustain my own
household, surely is foolish. Since then, as if in eagerness to shut us
down, the forces of darkness have been permitted to bring us very,
very low. Or is it God? “Thou hast shewed thy people hard things:
thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.” Psalm 60:3.
Friend, if I were to list all the outstanding bills incurred in our
quest this year, it would be enough to discourage you, so I won‟t.
What‟s interesting to me is that it was when I was at my lowest – it
was when I felt my hands were greased and could no longer cling to
the promises of God – that God upheld me with one more verse. It‟s
Luke 18:1. “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men
ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Oh that verse fit. With this
one verse, coupled with the insights He gave me about Elijah, I was
strengthened to again put on my armor and continue marching.
Then there‟s this quote I found just this morning, coming from a
man whose biography I just love. Said Macarthur: “Age wrin-
kles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.”
I can‟t close this epistle without addressing one more issue. I‟m
referring to the importunity expressed in these words last month: “If
Knox could pray: „O God, give me Scotland or I die!‟ (Gospel
Workers, page 297) then so can I. If we fail to go to Jerusalem, or
fail to produce this video, O God, then please, take my life and shut
this Ministry down.” The language is extreme. Some reading it may
have become disillusioned. It‟s for these, therefore, that I‟ve gone
on-line and found four references to Knox‟s prayer in the Ellen
White data base. Here they are:
THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
“During the troublous times of Scotland, when the po-
pish court and aristocracy were arming themselves to
suppress the Reformation in that land, and the cause of
Protestant Christianity was in imminent peril, late on a
certain night, John Knox was seen to leave his study, and
to pass from the house down into an enclosure to the rear
of it. He was followed by a friend; when, after a few
moments of silence, his voice was heard as if in prayer.
In another moment, the accents deepened into intelligible
words, and the earnest petition went up from his strug-
gling soul to Heaven, “O Lord, give me Scotland, or I
die!” Then a pause of hushed stillness, when again the
1
CRUNCH TIME
Laying off our lone
worker in Jamaica
wasn’t easy.
Winston’s Folly PAGE 9
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words, and the earnest petition went up from his strug-
gling soul to Heaven, “O Lord, give me Scotland, or I
die!” Then a pause of hushed stillness, when again the pe-
tition broke forth, “O Lord, give me Scotland, or I die!”
Once more all was voiceless and noiseless, when with a
yet more intense pathos, the thrice-repeated intercession
struggled forth, “O Lord, give me Scotland or I die!” And
God gave him Scotland, in spite of Mary and her Cardinal
Beaton; a land and a Church of noble Christian loyalty to
Christ and his crown. How could it be otherwise?
“So [it was with] Luther when Germany and the Refor-
mation seemed to be lost, and human help was none; this
was the prayer which that second Moses went and laid
down at the foot of the eternal throne: “O God, Almighty
God, everlasting! how dreadful is this world! behold how
its mouth opens to swallow me up, and how small is my
faith in thee! If I am to depend upon any strength of the
world, all is over. The knell is struck. Sentence is gone
forth. O God! O God! O thou my God! help me against all
the wisdom of the world. Thou shouldst do this. The work
is not mine, but thine. I have no business here. The cause
is thine, and it is righteous and everlasting. O Lord, help
me. O faithful and unchangeable God! I lean not on man.
My God, my God, dost thou not hear? My God art thou
no longer living? Nay, thou canst not die. Thou dost not
hide thyself. Thou hast chosen me for this work. I know
it. Therefore, O God, accomplish thine own will. Forsake
me not for the sake of thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
my defence, my buckler, and my stronghold.”
“But he had not done. Once more the tide of emotion and
importunity burst forth, “Lord where art thou? My God,
where art thou? Come, I pray thee; I am ready. Behold me
prepared to lay down my life for thy truth. For the cause
is holy. It is thine own. I will not let thee go; no, nor yet
for all eternity! My soul is thine. Yes, I have thine own
word to assure me of it. My soul belongs to thee, and will
abide with thee forever. Amen! O God, send help Amen!”
“The history of the salvation and sanctification of human
souls hitherto, is the history of such praying as this, in spi-
rit, if not in these or any uttered words. Such holy
earnestness and familiarity never of-
fends the Father of our Lord Jesus Chr-
ist, who through him is the God of all grace and conso-
lation.” Adventist Review & Sabbath Herald, Volume 25,
page 179.
KNOX
LUTHER
PRAYERS THAT SHOOK HEAVEN’S
THRONE
“GIVE ME SCOTLAND OR I DIE!”
Winston’s Folly PAGE 10
-
“There must be more earnest and determined effort. John
Welch, a faithful minister of Christ, felt so great a burden
for souls that he often arose in the night, and sent up to God
his earnest supplication for their salvation. His wife pleaded
with him on one occasion to regard his health, and not ven-
ture on such exposure. Mark his answer: “O woman, I have
the souls of three thousand to answer for, and I know not
how it is with them.” John Knox, when in an agony of
prayer for his beloved land, cried out in the burden of his
soul, “O God, give me Scotland, or I die!” {RH, October
20, 1896 par. 9}
“In a town in New England a well was being dug; and when
the work was nearly finished, while one man was still at the
bottom, the earth caved in and buried him beneath an ava-
lanche of sand and gravel. Instantly the alarm went forth,
and mechanics, farmers, merchants, lawyers, and ministers
hurried breathlessly to the rescue. Ropes, ladders, spades,
shovels – all that could be needed and used were soon
brought by eager and willing hands. “Save him! O, save
him!” was the cry. They worked with desperate energy, till
the sweat glistened like beads upon their brows, and their
arms trembled with exertion. At length a tin tube was thrust
down, through which they shouted to the man to answer if
he was still alive. The response came, “Alive, but make
haste! It is fearful here.” With a shout of joy they renewed
their efforts, and at last he was reached and saved, and the
joyful cheer went up that seemed to reach to the very hea-
vens, “He is saved!” and the cry was taken up and echoed
through every street and alley in the town. {RH, October 20,
1896 par. 10}
“Was this too great zeal and interest, too great enthusiasm,
to save the life of one man? It surely was not; but what is
the loss of one life in comparison with the loss of a soul? If
the threatened loss of one life will create such intense ex-
citement in human hearts, should not the loss of a soul
create greater and deeper solicitude in the hearts of men
who claim to realize their danger? Shall we not show as
great zeal and perseverance in laboring for the eternal salva-
tion of souls as were manifested for the life hanging in the
balance, of that man buried beneath the sand and rubbish?
{RH, October 20, 1896 par. 11}”
“Missionary work, God help us to understand what it is, and
how we must engage in it. Every missionary should be
wholly the Lord‟s, pressing forward to attain to the perfec-
tion of Christian character. The standard of piety must be
lifted high. Every species of idolatry must be sacrificed.
Souls, precious souls, must be saved. . . . {TDG 171.3
2
3
Winston’s Folly PAGE 11
JOHN WELCH
The Man Who Wouldn’t Be
Stopped
-
Souls, precious souls, must be saved. . . . {TDG 171.3}
“One man, when the church in Scotland was making some
resolutions to compromise the faith, to concede their
staunch principles, was determined never to yield a jot or
tittle. He went upon his knees before God and thus pleaded,
“Give me Scotland, or I die.” His importunate prayer was
heard. Oh, that the earnest prayer of faith may arise every-
where, Give me souls buried now in the rubbish of error, or
I die! Bring them to the knowledge of the truth as it is in
Jesus. {TDG 171.4}
“The Lord God of Israel is watching every worker to see
whether he is in earnest, whether he carries upon his heart
the burden of souls. God sees whether his servants touch
these living interests with the ends of their fingers, or
whether they grasp them with all their might. If all had the
interest that Knox felt when he cried, “Give me Scotland, or
I die!” – a wrestling with God that will not be denied – they
would find that God would work with their efforts, and
would give them souls for their hire. They would not be
lifted up because of their success, nor would they for a mo-
ment fear that some one else would receive the credit due to
them; but they would be so grateful to God for the souls
saved that his praise would be in their hearts and on their
lips day and night. It is such workers whom God will make
mighty in his cause. {MM, June 1, 1892 par. 3}
“We are altogether too faithless, and too narrow in our
views. Gideon‟s army prevailed, not because of their num-
bers, but because in living faith they followed the special
direction of God. If we make narrow plans, we shall see
very little accomplished.”
Here at Laymen For Religious Liberty Ministries, we‟ve laid
large plans before the Lord. Far from quitting, we‟re restructuring
our website and making a much broader appeal for funds. Beyond
these necessary works, however, lies the responsibility of our pray-
ing like Elijah, like Luther, like Welch, like Knox. With that in mind
I‟d like to ask you to join us in prayer, most fervent prayer, that
Isaiah 41:23 may indeed be brought before the world and Islam be
led to see the utter futility of trusting in their false prophet, Mo-
hammed. I don‟t even mind if in your prayers you refer to this
project as David’s folly. It‟ll be an honor indeed.
“Innovators naturally seem to first run into the scoffers, then
the cynics, followed by the critics, and finally the surprised.”
4
DAVID MOULD
Winston’s Folly PAGE 12
“Age wrinkles the body, quitting
wrinkles the soul.”
GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR
October 20th, 1944: Wading ashore at
Leyte, Philippines, thus fulfilling his
iconic promise, “I shall return.”