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SUCCESS...
"To be successful is
to be helpful, caring,
and constructive-
To make everything
you touch a little bit better.

The best thing you
have to give is
yourself."

Norman Vincent Peale

"FAILURE to stand
for what is morally
right is the prelude
to being the victim of
what is criminally
wrong"

"Zig" Ziglar

FINDING TRUTH IN A CONFUSED WORLD
Guest Commentary
Courtesy Bill Ellis
Syndicated Columnist

"To seek for the truth, for the sake of knowing the truth, is one of the noblest objects a man
can live for," according to English
writer, William Ralph Inge. I often
wonder as I listen to people talking if
anybody has any regard for the truth
about anything.

Listening carefully to what is being
said you may hear such a foolish
statement as, "It really doesn't matter
what you believe because we are all
going to the same place." Another

bold statement and just as foolish may be, "Just as long as you are sincere you have nothing to worry about." Is there anybody who is willing to search for the truth, find it and then pass it on to others? Where do you go to find the truth about life -- here and hereafter?

November 10th-11th, 2006, Kitty and I were among 3,000 others in a conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, which dealt intensely with the exposition of the truth. We listened to some of the most brilliant and highly educated scholars of our day deal with the conference theme, "Timeless Truths for Truthless Times."

They approached their assignment with the seriousness of the celebrated American author and editor, Henry L. Mencken, 1880-1956, who wrote: "I believe it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe it is better to know than be ignorant."

This particular conference was sponsored by Southern Evangelical Seminary, located in the "Queen City" of the south. It dealt with apologetics, which means to define, defend, explain, understand and make known. It simply means to keep digging until you know you have discovered what is true and be equipped to pass it on in an understandable manner. None of us will ever know all the truth there is to know, but searching for it and finding more of it is an exciting adventure.

Dr. Norman L. Geisler, widely acclaimed as the world’s leading apologist of the Christian faith, the founder, dean and former president of Southern Evangelical Seminary said: "Christianity is under attack today and must be defended against attacks from within by cults and from without from skeptics and other religions. But we have a reasonable Faith and the Bible has commanded that we give reasons for it to reasonable people who are seeking an answer." During his major address Geisler, the author or more than 60 books, declared: "Jesus was the greatest apologist who ever lived."

The three speakers, all renowned apologists, for the opening session, 6:30-9:30 p.m., were Erwin Lutzer, Ravi Zaharias and Josh McDowell. Speaking on the second day were additional leading apologists Gary Habermas, Mark Mittelberg and Lee Strobel. Among those leading teen elective and breakout sessions were such outstanding leaders as Frank Turek, Alison Thomas, Derwin Grey, Larry Blythe, Melissa Fryrear, Bob Smithouser, Larry Chapman, Judge Phil Ginn, Dave Johnson, Barry Leventhal, Paul & Gena Suarez, Michael Licona and Warren Smith.

President Alex McFarland, announced that the second weekend of November, 2007, is the scheduled date for the next National Conference on Christian Apologetics. Place and speakers to be announced.

It was the kind of conference that raises the most difficult and serious questions of the Christian faith. The high caliber of scholarship and academic excellence enabled leaders to give authoritative and plausible answers to those questions.

President McFarland says, "Christian apologetics is the practice of sharing reasons why we believe what we do. Apologetics means a defense. Christianity is unique in that it is the only faith system based on historical facts that can be thoroughly investigated. We have verifiable words and events, including the bold claims of Jesus Himself."

Publisher's Note: Bill Ellis
Award Winning Syndicated Columnist
P. O. Box 345
Scott Depot, WV 25560
304-757-6089

www.BillEllis.Net