I’m getting sick of the Russians.

Day by day the worldly life gives many opportunities to the dishonest and hostile. It may surprise you to know that operating a ministry like this one is less a matter of prayer and study than a matter of contending with creditors and debtors, lawyers, and with honorable mention, the telephone company and the post office. There is something in the climate of American commerce that makes it difficult to do business simply and straightforwardly. There are too many “sharpies” and too many downright dangerous competitors.

And that brings me to the Russians.

Now personally, I’m very old-fashioned when it comes to communism. I detest the stuff. I’m a throwback to the cold war days, which I believe never ended. The only issue on which I completely trust the Soviets is on their promise to take over the world. I believe in the discredited domino theory. I believe that a Russian communist will lie for his cause 100% of the time. I do not see ghosts and goblins oven there; I just see a bunch of overaged gangsters in badly tailored wool suits who enjoy wielding power.

A recent editorial in the Los Angeles Times chided President Reagan for being so conservative and reactionary as to see some harm in communism (I don’t mean to single out the Times; you can read this tripe in your own newspaper any day of the week). The editorial made fun of the President and lionized the present Russian administration. I can’t even remember what it was the communists were being praised for in this particular instance.

Well now they’ve blown 269 people from their airplane seats into eternity and they won’t even come forward with a believable story about it. This is not just evil; it’s Evil. It’s the kind of incomprehensible Evil we can only associate with the enemy of God and of our faith. The Russians haven’t explained why they did what they did because there is no explanation. They wouldn’t be able to persuade their own children that they did anything but murder those innocent people. I’m deeply moved by all of this and I can only say that if something is wrong in our country, it is much more terribly wrong abroad. This is a day in which we are simply surrounded by Evil.

I’m ashamed that our government has decided to do nothing about this crime, but then, I don’t know what any of us can do. The day by day evils, like the cheating and the disinformation and the poor products and the poor services—that we can grapple with. But when it comes to the genuine Evil, I think “the battle is the Lord’s.” All we can do is more strongly and more faithfully follow the Lord and His commands because we are simply not equipped to recompense Evil.

There’s not much more to say on the subject, though time may provide some new insights or the Russians may come up with some story we can at least understand. In the meanwhile, Flight 007 and its passengers are gone “until the sea shall give up its dead” and we must return to the battles we can fight.

Since we’ve opened up the subject of world news, I want to tell you that I’ll be dealing with more in our upcoming newsletters. I will introduce you to Yitzhak. (Isaac) Shamir, who it appears, will be the next Israeli Prime Minister. And hopefully, there will be some good news to comment on as our publications come out.

This isn’t much of a way to introduce a Christmas brochure but I’m sure you know what it is and what it’s for. The best of all of our efforts from over 100 past programs are included at some good prices. It will help us greatly with our battles if you’ll do some of your Christmas shopping in our brochure.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and all of your support. Dallas/Ft. Worth and other cable Ch. 39 viewers, be ready for the first of the new fall programs at 9:00 PM, Sunday, Sept. 25. CBN starts two weeks later on Oct. 9, and so on.

Thanks for rejoicing with us in these new programs.

In His service,

P.S. Send your Pastor to the Holy Land! Our 1983 Minister’s Tour is still available at $996. Dates are Nov. 29–Dec. 6. Ministers and wives only at this price, please. Write immediately for information and brochure.

P.P.S. Some of you have shown a strong interest in a “Christmas in Bethlehem” tour. We have checked and Dec. 19–29 would be an excellent time for such a trip. Please let us know immediately if you would like to go and we’ll do our part in making the arrangements.