October 1, 2025

Dear Friends,

This week three men prayed with me according to the pattern of Luke 18:13 & Romans 10:9.

The first was a man who wrote:

Hello, I’m pretty sure I was wrong about all the evolution and atheist convictions I held for a long time. I’m positive there is evil and I’m just as positive there must be God. How do I accept Jesus?

Wow, with a desire like that, this one was teed up and ready to get saved. We met, and 60 minutes later, he readily proclaimed the message of the Lordship of Jesus and his resurrection from the dead. He is an older man, and it is wonderful to see him rejecting his past unfounded convictions and accepting the truth, crying out, as did the Philippian jailer, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30 He is in daily Bible reading and committed to a mentor for weekly Bible study.

The next was a computer scientist in his 50s, writing

I hold a belief in both God and Christ. However, my scientific perspective presents a challenge regarding the “supernatural” elements of the gospel, particularly the resurrection, which is considered a crucial component of salvation. Raised as a Pentecostal, I later rebelled against a worldview that offered me two options: accept and uphold my scientific beliefs and a rational and logical worldview, potentially leading to eternal damnation, or adhere to the literal interpretation of the biblical text, disregarding my authentic self. Through the guidance of individuals like yourself and John Lennox, I have made significant progress in understanding that science and Christianity can coexist. Nevertheless, I continue to encounter difficulties in reconciling these two perspectives. I would appreciate it if you could provide me with additional information regarding the upcoming Zoom call. Sincerely,

This man was not far from the Kingdom of God. After going through the gospel and the resurrection, he was firmly convinced and proclaimed the resurrection. He is in daily Bible reading and also in the hands of Chuck Lloyd for mentorship.

Mark 12:34
When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

The next was a young man in his mid-twenties, a college graduate in exercise science, who wrote an email entitled, “I feel lost.”

Hi Prof. Tour, I hope this email finds you well. My name is ______ and I’ve listened to a couple of your podcasts inconsistently. I can’t help but feel a bit lost at times, especially with all the information that circulates on the internet as far as our understanding of life. The different religions/opinions that exist can be overwhelming at times too. I’ve listened to a little bit of your background/story, and I’d love to hear more. Although I’m doing my best to remain grounded, I’m actually going through a very difficult time in my life. I’d love to speak with you.

I inquired whether he believed that Jesus rose from the dead. He replied,

Deep down in my heart. My first response feels untrue.

So we met and he readily received the word of truth. He agreed to daily Bible reading and weekly Bible study with Burt Brink. He left the call exceedingly happy.

“…and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God…” Acts 16:34

God bless,

Jim Tour