Dear Friends,
This week three men prayed with me according to the pattern of Luke 18:13 & Romans 10:9.
The first was a middle-aged man who attended the college student lunch. Soft spoken, a 4th-generation Texas rancher. Like many Texas ranchers, he was polite and respectful. A likeable man. He was invited by a woman friend of his, and this was the second time he attended the Bible study and lunch. The woman alerted me a few hours before, so I was ready to share with him. It was apparent, I was not starting from ground zero and he readily accepted the message of the gospel and prayed. I taught him how to read the scriptures thoughtfully, thinking about each sentence before moving to the next. And he agreed to 13-week Bible study with Chuck Lloyd. Lord, I pray he takes hold of this message, making the scriptures his daily morning meditation. Mercy upon this kind man, I pray.
The next was a 19-year-old man studying at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute in Paris, France. Here is the email exchange:
Dear Dr. Tour, I greatly admire your work and the clarity you bring to complex scientific topics. I have a question: Do you believe it is possible for neurons, which are fundamentally chemical in nature, to generate consciousness and thoughts, no matter how complex? Thank you for your incredible contributions and inspiring work.
Dear ______: “…no matter how complex”. Surely not. They are finite and not infinite. God bless, JT
Dear Dr. Tour, Thank you for taking the time to read my email. I have previously asked you a question about chemistry and consciousness, and I deeply appreciate your insights. In one of your videos, you mentioned your belief in the resurrection of Jesus. I have always believed in an intelligent source, but I would like to know why you specifically identify this source as Jesus. Additionally, as a philosophical dualist, I have conducted extensive research in neuroscience, particularly on neurodegenerative diseases. This has led me to develop a speculative theory called the “information field of the brain,” which explores how the soul might interact with the brain. The theory aims to shed light on why certain neurological conditions prevent the soul from functioning clearly. While speculative, I have a copy of this theory if you are interested in reviewing it. However, my primary concern is this: why do you see Jesus as the incarnation of this divine intelligence in human history? Thank you in advance for your time and your reflections on these profound topics. Sincerely, ______
Dear _____, My invitations are very very specific. Imagine what will happen if I discussed all topics of interest to people—I would be overwhelmed. Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus? If not, do you want to hear about why I embrace that? It takes 1 hour. God bless, Jim Tour
We met and this young man was exceedingly open. I had envisioned the French to be more cynical. Surely, my preconception was incorrect. He readily received the message. The Holy Spirit had prepared him. He is in daily Bible reading and Bible study. He then wrote:
Dear Dr. James Tour, Thank you so much for everything. I truly appreciated this moment, and I want to let you know how much it helped me. I will start today, just as you advised. Yes, I would love to join your Bible studies, and I am eager to get started. God bless you, and thank you again for your guidance. Sincerely,______
Just like that, the gospel arrests a man. His other questions were fluff. He was seeking the message of eternal life. May the Lord bring us to share the fundamentals that are embodied in the gospel.
The third was man in his early 60s, in California, an integrated circuit designer, PhD in Physics, MIT-educated. From the beginning he was a great skeptic. Here is what he wrote to me, without salutation, greeting or closing. Sort of a cold man, but he’s like many physicists, so I understood the behavior.
I would be glad to have a discussion with you, or someone on your team, regarding the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and other aspects of Christianity. I grew up in a Christian family, and am quite familiar with most parts of the Bible. However, there are many aspects of traditional belief (and the behavior of Christians) which seem contradictory, immoral, and factually incorrect.
Dear Mr. _______, do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus? God bless, Jim
As a literal, historical event, no. No more than I believe that God hardened pharaoh’s heart, or sent an evil spirit to Saul, or that the sons of God fathered Nephilim.
We met. I asked him about his occupation. Next, I spent three minutes discussing some of the electronic devices that we have designed and commercialized over the years, and our present neuromorphic AI chip design. Then, the gospel did its work. Some contests here and there, but they were easily defused. He struggles with guilt for typical sins of the past. That is why, “Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6). Nowhere does it say that Christ died for the godly. The godly will have to find their salvation somewhere else. Frankly, to my surprise, he readily prayed with me. Why was I doubting?
He is now assigned to Chuck Lloyd for Bible study. He has emailed a few more questions, still battling his powerless past. Lord, I pray he grasps the magnitude of your forgiveness.
Jesus has done it all.
Romans 5: 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
That is the message of hope that we carry to these lost souls, from the ranches of Texas to Silicon Valley and the AI Institutes in Paris, the same message. The gospel message works. Inherent in the message is the power of God leading to salvation.
God bless,
Jim
