March 04, 2026
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 contacted me online and said he does not believe in the resurrection. And that he would be traveling to Houston so was open to meeting in person.
Dear Dr. Tour, I have been watching your videos for the last several months and humbly request the opportunity to get together and listen to you share why you embrace the resurrection of Jesus. This past Sunday, I sent the following text to my girlfriend (a believer): “I don’t have a hard time with the historical context of Jesus. He is the greatest prophet in the history of the world! I sometimes think the stories were embellished about him decades and century’s later after his death and resurrection. Who cares, I think I should look past it and focus on the big picture and my faith and my heart will change.” “I don’t think I’m smarter or anything like that. It’s more like I feel like I’m reading Harry Potter or something. I’ve never had 5 minutes of attention span for Sci-fi and that is kind of what I feel if I’m at Bible studies for long.” Many of my friends, family, colleagues and peers would probably be shocked or very disappointed if they were aware of my serious doubts about the resurrection and other supernatural stories in the Bible. I’m [XX] years old, was baptized Presbyterian, went to Catholic school from 5th to 8th grade and converted. I like church and people of faith and your faith inspired me to connect. I’ve completed yoga certifications, and am familiar with those teachings, and am somewhat familiar with the teachings of other religions as well. I think when it comes down to it, the supernatural of it all is unconvincing. I wish I could believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus. I’m in Houston often and would be happy to meet at your convenience. If possible could you please share a few dates and times that work for you? Thank you,
We met over lunch. He was a likable middle-aged guy and he immediately responded to the gospel and embraced the resurrection based upon the evidence. And he agreed to the daily reading and weekly Bible study.
The next was an international postdoc at Rice University who is about to return to his home country to take on a professorship at a major university. He had known of my faith, and his intrigue finally led him to approach me and ask to hear more about it before he returned home. He had never heard the gospel before, nor did he grow up in a Christian home or a Christian country, but he received the word immediately—this is how the gospel works. I gave him a Bible since he never owned one, and I taught him how to read it slowly and meditatively. And he is set up in Bible study by Zoom.
The third is a man in Australia who contacted me and wrote a long treatise about the resurrection.
Dr Tour, Thank you for sharing your moving encounter with Jesus and then offering to talk with skeptics of the physical resurrection of Christ. I believe in God the Father. That’s easy. I believe I’ve had two encounters with the Holy Spirit in my life, one at 4 and the other at 29. The teachings of Jesus are wonderful and searching. However, that is not the same as belief in the bodily resurrection. I find this part of the Trinity difficult for all the obvious reasons, with common anti-resurrection arguments being (listed from easiest to dispatch to hardest, as best I can do):
[He listed 15 anti-resurrection arguments, yet he himself refuted them all. So it was odd for a man who says that he cannot believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus to refute all counter-resurrection arguments.]
I appreciate this email makes me come across as overly analytical and, given your conversion experience, you might find this outline of arguments dry, more head than heart. Then again, you are a scientist. I should add, I am not. I work in private equity.
At any rate, I’d love to take you up on your offer and speak with you at a mutually convenient time. I am in _________Australia. I can chat over Zoom or Teams or WhatsApp, whichever platform you prefer. Regardless, I wish you well. Yours sincerely,_______________
The man is in his 50s. He is the son of a preacher, and many others in his family are preachers. I expected more resistance. But as I shared the gospel, he started weeping. When it came time for prayer and confession of faith, there was no hesitation, but he did it through many tears. He agreed to the daily reading and weekly Bible study. He was struck and thankful for the dedication of the disciplers in donating their time.
The gospel is not a sham. Share it with full conviction in its power to change the hearts of men.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
“...for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction…”
Full conviction.
God bless,
Dr James Tour
