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November 17, 2003 Congrats to ninetyandnine.com’s Cara Baker who was married over the weekend to Jeff Davis in Apopka, Florida. Cara, who has been with ninetyandnine.com for the last 3+ years, has been vital to the web-zine. So, rest easy, she isn’t gone; she is just taking a slight breather and getting material for lots of new articles! Best wishes to Cara and Jeff from your ninetyandnine.com family; we are so happy for both of you!
The recent article by Marcus Trammell on English Translations of the Bible was interesting and welcome. It also seemed to be pretty accurate as far as it went. However, by leaving out some very important data, it may leave people with a bit of a false impression. The article seems to leave you with the idea that KJV is based on six texts and the newer versions are based on 5000+. This isn’t quite the case. In fact the Majority Text is a compendium of those 5,000+ texts which have very few differences among them. The Majority Text is in almost complete agreement with the Textus Receptus upon which the KJV and NKJV are based. Most “modern” versions, however, are based on the Westcott-Hort theory of textual criticism, which places inordinate priority on one or two “ancient” texts found in Egypt which have great differences from the Majority Text. So a more realistic view is that KJV and NKJV harmonize with the 5,000+ NT texts and the NIV, et al., agree and give priority to differences found in one or two problematic texts. For interested persons, I recommend taking a look at Daniel Segraves’ book on the KJV and the book by David K. Bernard on God’s Infallible Word. Anyway, thanks to Brother Trammell for bringing up a topic of great interest to me and many others, I suspect.
Re: “Dear Miss Wonders, by Gabby” Wow! Is this the best article ever or what! Could we please get this article on the trees and stuff into the Pentecostal Herald? I loved it. Thanks, Kevin M. Shaw, California
Is there anybody that feels a call to reach people in a small section of NYC called Staten Island? There are only 500,000 people here and there is one United Pentecostal Church. The area is residential, multicultural and a great place to eat real Italian food. We welcome all newcomers. Come visit the mission field. We encompass foreign and home missions into one rewarding experience. Name it. We've got it. Oh, yeah, except for a church on every corner. Sightseeing tours available for all those who qualify. Sincerity required. Simply respond to this letter. Travis Carter, New York
Dear Michelle, I agree with you. Enjoyed your article “TV and Toast” and wish more people would use their brain to think things out instead of just being parrots. God bless! Linda Walmer, Brazil, South America
I read Marcus Trammell's article on the KJV (again) and was reminded how we often get stuck with tradition. As a former Bible quizzer, I love to memorize the KJV and I appreciate the poetry it offers. However, I now use other translations for much of my daily reading. I recently purchased The Message, and it sheds an entirely different light on some passages by using the same language I use in day-to-day life. Eugene Peterson has done for the 21st century American what Tyndale did for the British centuries ago. Also, kudos to Michelle Dangiuro for an original analogy and insightful look at the television issue. I'm not much of a toast person myself! Josh Lewis, Louisiana
This was a masterfully done article “Of Televisions and Toast” and the significant crux of the matter was summed up in the brief paragraph, “But the question then remains—which of these visions will television help achieve? Will the images we view on the small screen enhance our character? Soften our hearts toward God? Solidify a godly worldview?” The Apostolic viewer, whether a member of an organization that officially prohibits TV or an independent as I, who admit to owning and, when appropriate, watching TV, need to stop and ask himself or herself what purpose they are seeking to accomplish in watching the program - is it to have a closer walk with the Lord Jesus? Is it to learn about world history or geography so as to better understand mankind's foibles and attitudes as compared with God's worldview, or is the program one that truly is edifying and brings focus on the Lord? Maybe it is a science program that teaches true science rather than evolution. These may be beneficial in broadening the individual's outlook and response when faced with questions of spiritual significance while dealing with sinners. Unfortunately, there are extremely few Apostolic Christian TV programs on the air these days and the pastors who dare to broadcast their services may find themselves eternally criticized by fellow denomination ministers and even dis-fellowshiped when they are actually obeying the “Great Commission.” Is there a wicked program on TV? Then why didn't one of the larger Apostolic denominations lay out the cash and buy the air time before the ungodly sponsors did? Sure, it is expensive, but so is sending a missionary half way around the world to minister in a country where Jesus Christ has either never been heard of or is a different Jesus Christ than the Bible teaches. I'm not knocking the foreign missions program. As an Independent (Up Way Publications/Followers of Jesus Christ Ministries) I have been privileged to serve brief periods in both the Philippines and former Soviet Union, but I am saying that actually, dollar for dollar, air time on TV would likely be more productive in numbers of souls reached provided the services aired were truly Holy Spirit anointed and empowered—in other words really great Apostolic Pentecostal services through which the worship and preaching bring the couch potato engrossed in the tube to feel power conviction of the Holy Spirit and want to call the pastor or the church to pray through in repentance and get baptized in Jesus' name. Admittedly this is an area where, for pure numbers of countable “converts” the antichrist “only believe and you’re eternally saved” doctrine has the advantage, but people will call and talk to an Apostolic counselor if one is available to be called and will come to the church for baptism and fellowship. Why let Satan have one of the most powerful communication tools ever invented when we need to use it to do our part in obedience to “The Great Commission,” “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature...”
Re: Restaurant Terrorists and Pentecostal Scrooges A number of years ago, I served as an associate minister with an Apostolic pastor and missionary who was a very powerful preacher in church, but with whom I was actually embarrassed to go with to have a fellowship meal in a restaurant afterward. He was cheap, demanding and a poor tipper. I don't know how many times I went to the waitress privately and apologized for his actions. So I am in full agreement with your ninetyandnine.com article, “Restaurant Terrorists and Pentecostal Scrooges: An Open Letter to My Pentecostal Family” by Brenda Barros. We need to always remember that “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,” (Matthew 5:16) is just as true after that great service at church while you are in a restaurant or taxicab or wherever. I know that Pentecostal Publishing House has, or had a tract, “Here's a TIP on Life” (tract # 129 by J.R.E.) for handing out to service persons who typically receive tips, and I also wrote one, called “The Best Tip You Will Ever Receive.” In light of the article, I believe the first paragraph of the tract is appropriate: “You work hard to please other people who are sometimes grumpy, irritable and then have the gall to be stingy with their tips as well. So to make up for the people who have made your day as difficult as it has been today, I want to give you an extra good tip, more than the customary fifteen to twenty percent of my bill. But besides that, even if I could give you a million dollars, (I can't) as a tip, I have a still more valuable tip for you. In fact, it really is the most valuable tip anyone can ever give you. Its value is far beyond that of money or jewels.” I try to give at least a 30 percent tip and place it inside the tract so that the ends of the dollars show out the top and bottom of the tract and then I use a real quarter to cover each of the two quarters on the front cover so that the person receiving it will remember that there really was a good monetary tip when they go to read the tract. Many serving people like waitresses and taxicab drivers have already been deeply hurt by some event in their life and need the love of Jesus to be shown by those who claim to be true servants of Him who is Love Personified. Our Lord Jesus Christ, Rev. Samuel M. Smith, Hawaii
I thought the article “Of Television or Toast” was very balanced. It gives so much more credibility to a view when it is balanced. It reminded me of a conversation my pastor had with a lady in the church. She asked, “Do I have to call you pastor?” His response, “No, you get to.” I must admit, though, that I stayed up a little too late watching the 49ers beat the Steelers on Monday Night Football. Andrew Degraffenreed, Virginia
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