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

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.

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

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Mrs. White … not our focus in

the Subway Sermon

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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.”