Bill got to join us, and is it Errol? Errol, yes. They joined us as well as my mom, Jessica. If you do not know my mom, this is my mom, Jessica, and she was, we served together in Morocco for all those years. My wife couldn't be with us tonight, but she's praying for us and praying for you guys. But anyways, we had about seven of us, and it was really interesting. It was at Ayala Park. They had a celebration for the end of Ramadan, but the way it was all set up is it was very scattered. So you had like families sitting in different locations, under trees and, you know, benches, chairs mostly. And so we got there, we had one brother, we had Bill station and one entrance into the park there with a box of literature, Bibles to distribute to those that would come in and out. And then we had another brother at another location where he was offering Bibles and tracts as well. We went into the park, a couple of us, and just kind of mingled with the people and started to pray and just see what God would do. And as we did that, I mean, within the first 10, 15 minutes, Errol sat down with one group of people, said hello to them, you know, and right away, just started opening up conversation. My mom met a Moroccan lady. She started speaking to her in Arabic, and right away she welcomed her and me and another brother, George, he was speaking to some men from Sudan and he was speaking in their language. So they were sitting down talking and then another couple, they were sitting down with some Egyptians. So God began to open the doors, they were friendly, they started receiving and people started listening and it was really neat, I was just praying, I was listening to Errol over there and he was sharing about different things and started talking about the cross and about Jesus and I just overheard some things. Well, I made a beeline over to a man who was dressed just like this actually with stripes but it was black and he had sunglasses on. So I thought, wow, I wonder if he's Moroccan. So I go over to him to greet him. Well, lo and behold, it was the Imam of the mosque, the host of the whole event. So I said, oh, hello, well he knows me and I know him. His name is Ahmed. So you have a name to specifically take before the throne of God because we need to intercede for Ahmed. A-H-M-E-D and Ahmed is another name for Mohammed actually, by the way. So Ahmed says hello and he's real friendly and we're talking a little bit and he's kind of a, he doesn't like to deal with confrontation, he doesn't like to talk about, he doesn't like to be confrontational with Christianity and with Islam. He doesn't like to step on people's toes. I could tell that right away from our first meeting that we had with some other Christian brothers. And so we talked very briefly and then I left and within about 20 minutes to half an hour, all of a sudden he comes over to my group with Arrow as he's sharing with these young people and he was pretty angry.  He says, I know you Stephen. And he says, you're sneaky and you're offensive in what you're doing here today. And I was like, oh, I love you too.   And so they just asked us to leave, you know.  There were some great conversations going on. Nobody was forced to be in any situation. We were all just conversating.   It is very dominating. It's controlling. It's a spirit of control and domination.  And I believe I said to him, are these people gonna stand before you or before God on Judgment Day? And I just felt like the Lord just impressed that up on my heart to say to him. So you know what? God's gonna do whatever he's going to do. But you know, I pray for him. And so George came and we all came and then we just kind of walked off. Well, the Lord kind of took us out there to the entrance and then our group kind of went around the park to the other side. And we were over there and God just began to open some other doors.  But at one point I said, I'm gonna just kind of take a walk and you know, just pray for the people. And as I was walking, there was actually one particular guy, there were actually, I think, a couple, but one particular man, we like to say in the mission field, a man of peace. It's from the scripture where Jesus sends the disciples out, remember? And he says, if you come to a house of peace, let your peace remain there if they receive you. But if they don't and they reject you, he says, wipe off the dust from your feet and continue on.  He kind of was apologetic. He said, I'm sorry about the way the Imam, you know, the way he spoke to you, the way he treated you. And so as I was walking and praying, I walk over and lo and behold, there was he right there. And he looks over and he greets me and he says, have a seat. So I sit down and I'm talking with him. He's from Algeria. So Moroccan Arabic and Algerian Arabic is very similar. So I was speaking with him and there was him, there was like his wife, his cousin, his brother and brother-in-law. So I'm talking to him the whole time, but I'm talking to all these people. And many times that's how it is. You'll find like you're talking to one person, but you're actually able to share with all these people that are listening. And so we just had this conversation turned out until like 40 minutes where I got to share with him about the blood atonement and about the path of the prophets.  You know, I would just say be ready for anything, but be willing to take risks, you know, be willing to take risks because it would be so easy because to tell you the truth, you know, I'm human, you know, and even though I know that could happen, I was a little bit discouraged. You know, I kind of felt discouraged because conversations were going well and you know, all of a sudden it was like, boom, right in your face. But it's kind of like, you know what? We had to trust the Lord and just say, God, you knew that this was going to happen and you brought us to this place.  Yeah, he did know. There were a lot of situations where he was in a confrontation, but he knew what was going to happen, you know. And even when he sends out his disciples, what does he say? He says, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. In other words, Jesus is knowing that you're going to go on to danger and he's sending you out. But he says, but be wisest serpents and harmless as doves, you know. And so I just think, you know what? There was no evil that we did. I did no evil as long as I'm not sinning against God, but we're preaching the gospel. We're sharing the love and truth and people got to hear the gospel. People received lots of literature, tracks, and you know what? Even the fact of all of the mosque, the people there, they got to see the way their leader behaved, the way he confronted us and what he said. So that's going to be all in their mind and they're going to be wondering even what is it that's so bad that these people were talking about? You know, they might even question that. You know, so anyways, thank you for your prayers. I know God did some neat things. You know, and that's just one event.  So praise the Lord, praise the Lord. So let's go on to, yes. Yeah, I mean it is preferable.  You know, you can wear pants. When, I'll just say this, in Morocco, when the women ministered and we had teams come out there, we would encourage them to wear skirts, you know, and to cover their shoulders, you know, at least, even if it's short sleeve, but at least cover your shoulders and wear skirts. You know, that's what I would say. No, that's not necessary, no. But I would say, you know, just that, you know? It's, that's a topic in the church that's really kind of like, you know, it's really, you know, it's hard to talk about. You know, it's one of those areas that the scripture talks about and as we are intentional in ministering, we have to kind of realize that because many times the person that's talking to you is hearing you, but then they're also seeing you and that can be a stumbling block for them, you know? So I think if I'm intentional and I'm like, okay, you know what, I wanna reach these people, okay, well, how am I gonna do that, you know? And so, yeah, practically, I think that's always, you know, something to consider, you know, yeah, yeah, yeah. And you know what? I, in this syllabus here, at the end, I gave everyone my email address. And so in the future, if you have any questions, feel free to email me and I'll try to answer your questions and try to help you out, okay? So I wanna be available. So communicating the gospel and we are looking today at part two of communicating the gospel. And so once again, reminding ourselves of this scripture, so important, 1 Corinthians 1-18, for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. And that scripture just, it's so real, you know? And you will realize that as you're sharing with people and it doesn't even have to be Muslims, you know? As you're sharing with people, the gospel seems foolish to the world. It seems foolish. And even as I was sharing with this one Algerian man, he just, he's never heard of the fact that it is by the blood that we are washed from sin, by the blood of a lamb and by the blood of God himself coming down. He's never heard of the blood atonement. And it was foolishness to him, you know? But this is such an important scripture for us to remember. But we're gonna look at starting today at obtaining salvation. So keep in mind, number one, they don't believe that they are born in sin, nor born separated from God because of their sin. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 59 verses one through two, behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear. And Romans 3.23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And so we have to remember for a Muslim wanting to obtain salvation, they believe that they are born innocent. They are not born in sin. And so we have to present the fact that the gospel starts with we are sinners. We've been born in sin. The scripture says very clearly all have sinned. That means every man, every woman born in this earth, everyone except for the one. And that's because the one, his origin is not earthly or earthy, but rather heavenly. And that's where we show that contrast. Every person is of the earth, but God who came from above, he is of heaven. And because his origin is in God and from heaven, he is without sin, but everyone was born in sin. So that's number one, you have to keep that in mind. Next, they don't believe that God made provision for their redemption through the blood sacrifice of Christ on the cross, but that they themselves through their good works, righteous deeds can satisfy God and obtain salvation. In fact, their good works can erase their bad ones. So some of these things were just going over, refreshers, okay? Look at what it says in Surah 2 verse 271. If ye disclose acts of charity, even so it is well. In other words, if you do acts of charity, but if you conceal them and make them reach those really in need, that is best for you. It will remove from you some of your stains of evil, okay? It says it will remove of you some, okay? So how much percentage is it? 30%, 40% it doesn't say. And Allah is well acquainted with what you do, okay? So it tells them there that if they do certain acts, it's gonna remove the stains of evil. But look at what it says in Isaiah 646.  We all fade as a leaf and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away. In John 1.29, remember John the Baptist spoke of Jesus and said, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Second Corinthians 521, for he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him, okay? So there is no provision for them. There is no provision for their sins. But rather only through their good works, they believe that some of their stains can be removed. Next point, they don't believe that they can have assurance of salvation in this lifetime. The question is, would God want his children, Muslims would say his servants or believers because when you're talking to them, they don't believe that God has children. So when you would speak to them, you would say, do you think that God would want his servants to live their entire life without any hope and joyful expectation of spending eternity in heaven with God? In other words, you're living day in and day out with no idea, no assurance that is God accepting this or not? Is it enough or not? Is it sufficient or not? You have no clue. You have no clue. And they live every day like that. But look at what Jesus says, John 5.24. Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has not will have but has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment but has passed from death into life. And first, John 5.13, these things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Very important once again, but it's a stumbling block because you are telling them, the scripture says you must believe in the name of the Son of God. That's foolishness to them. That's a stumbling block. It's offensive guys, but this is the gospel. If it doesn't stumble them, then it ain't the gospel. Jesus said this, and I love this parable he gives and then he says this at the end of the parable. He says, for whoever falls on this stone will be broken, but on whomever it falls, it will crush him to powder. If you just take that concept and you're preaching of the gospel, that's heavy.  Literally it says he will grind you to powder. And so this is something, a very good scripture to share. I have shared that with many Muslims, especially John 5.24 that I have shared with them. Do you know that I know that I have eternal life? They're like, how can you know? Because Jesus told me, it's not because of anything I've done, but do you believe that God lies? They'll say no. Well, God told me this. The Bible says this, Jesus declared this. Is Jesus a liar? No. See, we have to once again speak with authority. Speak with authority. Jesus Christ declares this. Now you can believe it or not, but Jesus Christ says right here, most assuredly I say to you, and we will not come into judgment, but have passed from death into life. Next, we have to remember that for a Muslim, they believe in a heaven and a hell. Now, of course, there are differences there, but nonetheless, they believe that there is a judgment and they believe that there is a heaven and there is a hell. They believe on judgment day, everyone will be judged by scales. The good deeds versus the bad deeds. In other words, they will gain entrance to heaven by their own efforts, by what they themselves did on earth. It is a reward earned, not a free gift that is unearned or undeserved. The Quran says this in Surah 23, verses 101 through 104. Then when the trumpet is blown, there will be no more relationships between them that day, nor will one ask after another. Then those whose balance of good deeds is heavy, they will attain salvation. But those whose balance is light will be those who have lost their souls.   But the Bible says this in Romans 6, 23, for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. See, we have deserved death. We have done everything to rightfully deserve God's judgment. There is nobody on earth that doesn't deserve God's judgment. We all deserve the wrath of God. And the Muslim needs to hear that. They need to know that I, not only you, but I too, all men deserve God's judgment and wrath. But God has offered us a free gift. Ephesians 2, 8, and 9, we're familiar with this. For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. And Titus 3, verses four through five, but when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. You see, once again in the Quran, it's declares of Allah that he loves the believers. His love is toward the righteous, towards the righteous Muslims. But look at what the scripture says, but when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man, meaning mankind, God's love and kindness, that's really beautiful because we talk a lot about God's love, but there is like another facet of his love where it says his kindness toward us appeared. The Muslim people are God conscious. They sincerely want to please God by doing what has been taught to them in the Quran. See, that's an important thing for us to remember. When you're talking to a Muslim person, in their mind, they truly want to please God. I mean, those that are really following their religion, they are truly wanting to, but the Bible says the God of this age has blinded them and that's why they're perishing because they've been deceived and they're blinded, but in their hearts they truly want to follow the God that they have been revealed. For a Muslim to obtain salvation, he must remember these things, believe the articles and the pillars of faith that we went over, say the confession of faith, try to practice the five pillars of faith as faithfully as possible. They must do as many good works as possible and repent when he has sinned and all along in his heart he says, God willing, my life is acceptable to God and God willing, he receives me into paradise. All along he's saying God willing, he will accept me. Jews and Muslims, both Jews and Muslims, both seek to please God in the flesh. Remember the scripture that we read before in Romans chapter 10. Through doing rather than receiving by attempting tirelessly to reach up to God, that's what they're doing, they're trying to reach up to God, but rather than him reaching down to us. They have not understood that. And here are the three different illustrations that I have given to you. I've shared with you before, but let's go over them. The first one, the people fallen into a pit. Remember that everyone has sinned and is incapable to save himself. Salvation can only come from him who is not fallen. And so there's that picture of mankind falling into this pit of judgment and despair, but only the man, only the one who has not fallen into sin can save us. A sinner cannot save a sinner. And a sinner cannot propitiate for a sinner. It had to be God made man who propitiated for our sins, who satisfied God's wrath. Another illustration here that's very effective is talking about halal versus non-halal meat.  If a Muslim was offered three plates of meat, but each one had a different amount of pork mixed with the beef, it would be forbidden to eat, no matter how little amount of pork was in it. In the same manner, God cannot allow any amount of sin into his holy presence, lest it defile heaven and compromise his holiness. See, once again, the Muslim has to understand the seriousness of sin, that sin must be judged, and no matter how much sin is in an individual, they cannot be allowed into heaven. God will not permit anyone to enter into heaven, except for being perfect, and there's nobody perfect. Here's another illustration, a murderer in court before the judge. If a murderer is charged with several counts of first degree murder, and is condemned by the judge to the death penalty, do you think the criminal would be acquitted of his crime if he showed remorse simply and begged forgiveness? You know, that person has committed crime, has murdered, but if he simply says, you know what, please forgive me, I'm so sorry, I'll never do it again. Do you think the judge will say, okay, I forgive you and let him go? Absolutely not. What if he promised to do lots of good deeds in order to outweigh the bad ones? You know, if that murderer said, you know what, I promise to do all of these things, I'll do this and I'll do that, will that kind of remove the stain of my guilt and remove the stain of my crime? No, absolutely not. Would that be sufficient to clear him of the charges and acquit him? What about the law of the land? There is a law that that crime must be punished, okay? Being a just judge, what about the victims' families, the offended party? In the same manner, no amount of good works can justify you and save you from the penalty of your sin. The holy law of Almighty God must be upheld and not broken. The penalty must be paid in full. God desires to forgive and justify the sinner. So these are some illustrations that can help you to share with a Muslim. Next I'd like to look at our relationship with God and the powerful Christian witness. This is very important as we're moving into communicating the gospel, okay? First of all, the Christian is a little Christ, a new creation and bears the fruit of a spirit-filled life. Okay, I think we can forget this. Christians can forget what is the name that I bear as a Christian. Now remember in the book of Acts, the name Christian was actually a term of mockery. We forget that. It was given to them mocking them saying, look at you guys are like little Christs, okay? Because the people in the book of Acts, the disciples were living just like Jesus. And what an amazing thing that the world would actually, if you would think of it in this sense, if they would mock us and see me as a little Christ to God, would that be so? That would be awesome. We want the world to see us as little Jesuses and this is what we need to understand. And so the greatest threat to the church isn't like so many may believe the religion of Islam or followers or radical Muslims. Neither is the greatest threat humanism which has permeated our modern Western society. It isn't Mormonism, liberalism or any other ism. The greatest threat to the church of today, I believe is nominal lukewarm professing Christians. This is a huge problem. This is the person who follows a formality and has a form of godliness but denies its power. This is from the scripture. This is the person who goes to church, maybe even serves in a ministry at church but during the week doesn't open his Bible. This person has no evidence of a Christ follower and has no conviction of sin, no hunger for God and no burden for lost souls. He has no desire to share the gospel or speak for righteousness sake lest he offend people and be hated. There is no commitment to complete obedience to God's word and a life of holy living. I believe guys that this needs to be addressed. We need to understand it's so easy for me to just look at all these exterior things and yet the whole, when you really read the whole of scripture and this has been my experience, I'm reading through all the prophets now and you just hear time and time again God is rebuking. His real issue is with his people. His real issue is with his people because yeah, they don't have it all together out there, they're in darkness, they're perishing but if my own people are sick and self-centered and seeking after other gods, that's a huge problem and God deals, he speaks very seriously about that. So look at this in Revelation 3 verses 14 through 17. And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, right these things says the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, I know your works that you are neither cold nor hot, I could wish you were colder hot so then because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. And so in this scripture, Jesus is saying this, he's saying it is so easy for me to see myself in a certain light but the true question is not how I see myself or how you see me but how does God see me? Because God says, you say you are rich and wealthy and have need of nothing but I see this and that's where we as Christians, as individual Christians need to say, God, I come before your throne and God, I want you to show me who I am. Reveal it to me because if there is sin in my life then God, I don't want it. I wanna leave it now, today, not tomorrow, not next week, right now I wanna repent of it because if you are holy then you are a weapon in the hands of God and believe me, God wants a church that is on fire for him. Second Corinthians 13, verse five, Paul says examine yourselves as to whether you're in the faith, test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you are disqualified. We need to do that. We would do well if we constantly would really test myself. And I do that in my own personal time and I do that with my spouse. Those who are closest to you, if you are not married you can do it with somebody who's close to you. How do you see me? Do you see me growing in Christ? Do you see me holier than a year ago? Because I told my wife this one day, I thought, this is kind of a, probably a, what is the word? Not foundational, elementary. This just sounds like an elementary question but shouldn't I as a Christian be getting holier rather than more unholy, right? And yet, like how many of us actually think that way? And like if I were to ask my wife or my, those closest to me and ask them that question, do you see me more holy than a year ago? That's a heavy question. And yet, if not, then I need to do some serious searching of the soul and serious changing in my life. But those are the sensitive questions that we need to ask ourselves if we're gonna get down to the nitty gritty. Matthew seven versus 17 through 20. Even so, Jesus says, every good tree bears good fruit but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits, you will know them. This right here, you really don't have to go anywhere. This right here should explain the Christian. In other words, if I am not bearing good fruit, Jesus, he doesn't beat around the bush. He says it will be cut down and thrown into the fire. And if you are a good tree, then you cannot bear bad fruit. That's pretty heavy, you can't. So if there's bad fruit, there's something, there's an inconsistency in the nature. And Jesus is talking about this. By their fruits, you will know them. And in the same way, guys, guess what?  But when I look at Jesus, I see a holy life. I see a sacred life. And I'm not talking about a halo or light around him. No, we look at his character. We look at his behavior. We look at his treatment of his friends, of his enemies, of people.  And it's the same thing. So just as we're looking at a Muslim, guess what, the Muslim is looking at me. And they're saying, let me see, what kind of fruit is in your life? And so here's a good test. If you were charged with the crime of being a Christian by those who know you the best, would there be enough evidence to charge you? Or would there be a lack of evidence? Good question to ask ourselves. Second Timothy 3, 10 through 12, but you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, love, perseverance, and then he says, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Listra. What persecutions I endured. And out of them all, the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. This is a guarantee. And Paul was saying to Timothy, he said, you have carefully followed in all these areas and even you followed my persecutions. Just as I was persecuted, so were you. And we need to do that. We need to have, we need to go through these things and say, God, may I follow really Jesus? And I want to follow Paul too. Because if Paul is on the way of Christ on the path, I'm going to follow him too. And all these things I need to see in my life. Philippians 2, 12, therefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And take note, it says work out your salvation, not work for your salvation. I am saved by the blood of Jesus. I am a sinner who was saved and I am regenerated. I am a new creation and I'm going to heaven. But now what? Because guess what, that day at the park, you know what the Muslim man told me? He told me this. He said, and what you're saying, Stephen, is that your sins are washed away and you're guaranteed heaven, and so you can live however you wish. And they say that many times. Automatically, that's immediately how they think. But we have to explain to them, no. I don't live all the way I want to, because now I am a new creation. It's like this tree that is dead, the tree has been pulled out, ripped out and now there's a brand new tree. I am a new creation. I am a new creation. I am not the old man. And so that needs to be understood. But a Muslim doesn't understand that. But as a Christian, we are new in Christ. And so the old has passed away and everything has become new. I gave you a couple quotes here. Look at what some of these saints said. Susanna Wesley, who was the mother of John and Charles Wesley. There are two things to do with the gospel. Believe it and behave it. I love that. Believe it and behave it. Leonard Ravenhill said, the world is not waiting for a new definition of Christianity. It is waiting for a new demonstration of Christianity. So true, so true. You know, when you talk to a Muslim once again, they've heard of Roman Catholics, they've heard of Methodist, Presbyterian. You know, they, on all these things, they're like, you know, and in a sense, they're like, man, what are you gonna tell me? But if you are a Christian that loves them, tells them the truth and lives a life before them, that is powerful because they've heard it all. Many of them have seen a lot of definitions of Christianity and we're trying to define it and redefine it and change it around and look different. They go to different churches and there's, you know, they can find all sorts of different, it's just all, but to see the power of it, where is the power? The power is in you, Christ in you, the hope of glory. And they need to see that demonstration of Christ in your life. Listen to what Tozer says. Oh, I love this. What I am anxious to see in Christian believers is a beautiful paradox. I want to see in them the joy of finding God while at the same time, they are blessedly pursuing Him. I want to see in them the great joy of having God yet always wanting Him. He says, religion today is not transforming the people. It is being transformed by the people. It is not raising the moral level of society. It is descending to society's own level and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smiling, accepting its surrender. And so let all these things just sink into our hearts and just say, Lord, make me a holy vessel God. Let there be a beautiful paradox in me that I have found Christ and I am totally satisfied, totally satisfied, and yet I am not because I want more, I want more. And you know what? That Christian needs to clash and come in contact with a Muslim because they're a lost soul in darkness but you're in the light and you're gonna bring them to the light, God willing. Next, this is an important point. God dwells in His people, not in a holy site. Let's look at these verses here. First Corinthians chapter three. Let me first of all read these points here. Muslims do not believe that God literally comes Himself and indwells His people, thus transforming the person. Allah is transcendent and separate from His servants. There is no intimacy, okay? There is, for them, they are the servant, they are the bond slave and Allah is transcendent. He's far and He is completely separate from His creation. But the Bible tells us this. In first Corinthians three, 16 through 17, do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you?  And turn with me to chapter six, chapter six, verses 19 through 20.  For you were bought at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. So for Muslims, God does not dwell inside of them. But God dwells inside of you. The God of the universe, the God who dwells outside of time and space dwells inside of every single Christian. Now, I mean, think of the ramifications, think of the consequences of that. The God who is omnipotent, who is all just, all gracious, all loving, all powerful, who there is no limits. He's boundless. He's limitless. He's living inside of you. But for the Muslims, he is not. Their God is not. Look at the second point here. Muslims believe in physical holy sites and places. When they pray, they need to physically cleanse themselves. As I said to you, every time they pray, they need to wash with water.  They need a prayer rug or some clean object to pray on. They have holy sites around the world, especially the Kaaba in Mecca, which is that black box, if you go on the internet and look it up, which are sacred, bringing blessing and cleansing of their sins when the pilgrimage is finished. And so they have all these places around the world which are holy sites for them. But for the Christian, we have no holy site because you are the holy site. You are the temple of the living God. He is living inside of you. And so you can share with a Muslim that God lives inside of you. You don't go to any place and you don't have any particular position to face the west or the east or the north of the south because God is everywhere and God is living inside of you. So that is very important in sharing with a Muslim. And I want you to know it is very powerful. And I want you to keep in mind not everything you will see the effects when you share with a Muslim, you may not see the effects right away, but everything you share with them and everything they see in you is being planted in their hearts. It's being planted in their minds and they're watching you. Next, reading the Bible and prayer to God can be in any language. This is an issue. Let's look at Romans chapter 10. Romans 10 verses 12 through 14. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek for the same Lord overall is rich to all who call upon him. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Notice, God says there is no distinction. He doesn't make any difference between the Jews and the Greeks, okay? Between the Jews and those who are non-Jewish, the Greek world. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. In other words, what that tells me is whoever calls on the name of the Lord, the condition, what is the condition of salvation? It's not calling in Hebrew or calling in Spanish or calling in whatever language. He says calling on the name of the Lord. So any person anywhere if he believes and calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. But look at what he says going on in verse 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? This is where Paul brings home the message of missions. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? So in order for someone to call, right, they have to believe. And in order for someone to believe in Jesus, they have to hear. They have to hear something. They have to hear a message. But then he says, and how shall they hear without a preacher? How shall they hear without a preacher? That is the great dilemma of the world. How are those people over there gonna hear without a preacher? Well, that's you and me. You're the preachers. We're the preachers because you have been called to preach, to speak, to declare, to tell the message. And then in verse 15, he says, how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things? You and I have a gospel of peace. And yet at the same time, it is a gospel that divides. Because Jesus at the same time, remember he said, I came to bring a sword to divide a household, right? And yet the gospel will bring peace with God. And first Timothy, turn with me to first Timothy chapter two. First Timothy chapter two, verses three and four. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. He desires all men, nobody is excluded. He desires all men to be saved. Now, although the Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, God's purpose was that the whole world would receive the message of the gospel. So that all men might believe and bring God the glory he deserves. The heart of God through the word of God can only be transmitted and communicated through a spoken language. See the only way that a person, let's say here, this person speaks whatever language it is and how am I gonna get the gospel from here to there? There has to be a language understood by the hearer, by the person. Therefore, God doesn't require everyone to learn Hebrew and Greek. If they are going to know God, how difficult would that be if God said, in order for you to come to salvation, you have to learn the original language and you have to know it well. Okay, we would all have to be, then it would have to be emphasized to me that I have to learn Hebrew and Greek to know God. Therefore, God doesn't require that. The language isn't sacred. The language isn't sacred. The God of the Bible and his message is sacred. See, this is where the Muslims have it turned around. The fact is 85% of all Muslims in the world cannot even read the Quran in their own native language, which is not classical Arabic. The Quran, as revealed to Muhammad, was revealed in classical Arabic, in the Arabic of the Quran, which 85% of the world does not, that's not their own language. So when a person, like when I was in Morocco, when the kids go to school, they speak Berber, which is a dialect, okay, a tribal dialect. Well, they speak that at home with their parents, but when they go to school, they have to learn Arabic. They have to learn the classical Arabic in order to read and write. And then the Arabic of the Quran is even more difficult and a lot of Muslims, they cannot even explain the Quran because they say it is too difficult. And in fact, they say this is one of the proofs that the Quran is from God because it's so high and it's so ununder, it's not understandable. And so that's how God wants to reach us. You know, it doesn't make sense, okay? And yet we need to explain to them and share with them God wants to reveal. He's the God who wants to make himself known to you. And so the way that God wants to make himself known, he comes in our language, okay? Now if prayer is one of, if not the most intimate interactions that a human being can have with God Almighty, then would it make sense that God would require you to pray to him in a language that is foreign to you? It would seem that God discriminates and shows favor to Arab speakers versus non-Arab speakers. God is concerned with the heart, not the words. God is not focusing on like, what kind of words are you using here? But God is concerned with your heart and your heart will be expressed through your words. God is concerned with our position spiritually, not our position physically. See for a Muslim, they have to say certain words, okay? They always, when they pray five times a day, they will always say the first, they say the Fatiha, which is the surah in the Quran called the Fatiha, which is a whole paragraph of words and they need to repeat that over and over and over. But it has to be said their prayer in Arabic, okay? Their Salat prayer has to be five times in Arabic. So you have a Russian Muslim, a Chinese Muslim, a Spanish Muslim, all around the world, they have to pray five times a day in Arabic. Otherwise it will not be accepted by God. But this is the question. How can you pray in a language that is not even your own language? Where is the intimacy? There is no intimacy. And with God is more concerned with our position spiritually rather than our position physically. They have to do a certain positions physically when they pray.  And I've had good conversations with Muslims and they ask me, do you bow? Do you kneel? And I share with them, yes. Sometimes I stand. Sometimes I lift my hands. Sometimes I'm flat on the floor on my face. Sometimes I don't even speak a word, but I just meditate in silence upon God. But you know what? Muslims don't, they don't hear that from Christians. They don't know Christians like that. But you have to be someone that can share with a Muslim that we do pray because they don't know that. But the way the Muslim world looks at the Christian world is that there is just everything they see in America and everything they see on TV, that's Christian. These are Christians, but they don't know Jesus. They don't know Jesus. Okay, the next thing, as I shared a bit about prayer, prayer is an intimate and thoughtful dialogue, not a formality and repetitious words. Matthew six, let's turn there real quick. Matthew chapter six, verses five through seven. Jesus said, and when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets that they may be seen by men.  Now, once again, you may not see this so much here, but in the Middle East and in living in a Muslim country, you do see that because as I said, they will close shops when it's time to pray and they go out, all the people together in front of their shop, sometimes by themselves and they are praying publicly. So automatically people see them and they think, wow, these people are holy. This man is a praying man. And in fact, I don't know if I told you, but many of them will have a mark. It looks like a bruise on the center of the forehead. So now notice it, if you ever look at Muslims or if you ever see them on TV and if you see like a bruise, that is because they pray a lot and they bow their head and they're constantly touching the ground to the point year after year after year that it causes almost like a callus on their forehead. You know? And it's so interesting because you see that in scripture where it talks about exterior things to show, you know, where he talks about having the tassels and where they have their phylacteries long in order so people will know that they're holy and they pray. But this is exactly what you have in the Muslim world.  And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. So they may ask you, what do you pray? And you can share with them, tell them what you pray, you know? I don't pray always the same thing. I don't even know what I pray, but you can share with them, what is it that you pray about? What are the things that you engage in prayer? And I've shared with the Muslims, sometimes my prayer is adoration, sometimes it's confession, sometimes it's thanksgiving, sometimes it's petition, sometimes it's intercession, you know?  But once again, it's because nobody engages the Muslims. So for they think that they will be heard for their many words, therefore do not be like them for your father knows the things you have need of before you ask him. So under prayer here, Christian prayer is one of the deepest forms of communion with God that anyone can experience. Jesus taught us to not emphasize on the amount of words we use in prayer or using vain repetitions like a formula that we use in order to sway God to do something. Rather it is a dialogue where we adore him, thank him, confess sins, make petition, intercede for people and we listen for God to speak to us in our hearts. And I encourage you if you have a discussion with a Muslim, share with them about your own prayer life. The close friends of mine that I have had close contact with, I've shared with them that there is a dialogue in prayer. God has spoken to my heart.   Do you know that I prayed about my wife and God answered exactly the woman that I married? Everything I asked for, God gave me in her. I mean, and they're like blown away and then you can ask them, what about you? Has God answered your prayer? How has he answered your prayer? I wanna know. So they need to see that you have a living, a living relationship with God. See, that's what they need to know because they don't know that. They don't have that, but God speaks to us. Now, obviously we need to explain that this is his revelation here. This is his objective revelation, but God does individually, he can speak to our hearts and he can lead us. For Muslims, they pray five times daily and repeat certain words over and over again ritualistically as I shared. Next, Christian martyrs, past and present, give a powerful testimony to Christ. Okay, we have some scriptures here. Look at this in Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews chapter 11, the hall, the chapter of faith. And yet we can so easily gloss over the very end of the chapter which talks about another group of people, not those that necessarily were victorious, quote unquote, or that conquered or did some great thing, but check it out. Hebrews 11, beginning with verse 35, women receive their dead raised to life again. Great, but then it says others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. Now remember, these are people of faith. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins being destitute, afflicted, tormented of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise. God having provided something better for us that they should not be made perfect apart from us. And so remember that as Muslims, they don't believe that their prophets suffer. Okay, they don't believe that their prophets, that's why they don't believe that Jesus, they have a hard time believing that Jesus Christ would suffer on the cross because no, God will not allow his prophet to suffer. But look at what the Bible says. These people of faith were mocked, they were chained, stoned, slain, sawn in two, and yet they were men and women of faith. And so look at my point here. The multitudes of Christians who have laid their lives down being mocked, plundered, beaten, imprisoned, scourged, abused, raped, tortured, wounded, mutilated, and more, those which have willfully and joyfully accepted this rather than deny the name of Christ is a powerful and mighty evidence that Christ is not only worth living for, but worth dying for. You know, when the subject has come up, we can talk about that. And you can talk to them about all 12 disciples. If Jesus did not die on the cross and Jesus did not rise again, if it was not Jesus, as you say, it was not Jesus, you explained to me how these 12 men, okay? So out of the 12 apostles, we know that John didn't. John the apostle, he was actually banished to the island of Patmos. But 11 of them died severe torturous deaths. So how is it that these 11 died for a lie, okay? And you can talk about all the multitudes. I've shared with Muslims about the Roman Coliseums.  How in the world could people do this? And ask them about themselves. Tell me about your Islamic history. Where does that happen? Doesn't exist. The opposite is true. We can talk about ISIS. We can talk about them, and we can talk about how women are being tortured and raped. And why aren't they creating armies to destroy ISIS? They're actually praying for your souls. They're actually churches that are praying and interceding for your salvation. But people are suffering for Christ's sake. Now, I have here the Christian who desires to see Muslims come to Christ should, and here are several things that I gave you. They should fall deeper in love with Jesus. Seek the God of the Bible through his word. Know God's word. Number two, ask God to bring Muslims to your path and to place his divine, constraining love in your heart for them. I encourage you, just continue to do that. Ask God to bring them to your path. Number three, intercede for Muslims always and encourage other Christians to do the same rather than promoting hatred and disdain towards them. You know, you may know people, especially on Facebook, okay, and you may know people on a personal level. I encourage you to share with them and encourage them to pray and intercede for Muslims. Next, pray that God would send labors into the Muslim world and intercede for those missionaries that are actively laboring among them. Please pray for them. Pray for those missionaries that are in the Muslim world that are here locally and that are abroad. I encourage you to do that. Go online, pray for ministries that are doing that, like Voice of the Martyrs and different ministries. Continue to learn about Islam and ministries to Muslims. Encourage you to take the class notes and go over them. You know, we constantly need to be refreshed. Next, seek to befriend Muslims and get to know them. Greet them in public and acknowledge their holidays. If you have any Muslims you know at work or school, invite them out for a meal or coffee or even better to your home so they can see how a Christian family relates. You know, take those risks of faith, take those steps of faith. I'll never die and say, I wish I didn't invite so many Muslims to my house but I may regret and say, you know that one guy or that one lady I wish I would have invited them over. We may do that. I don't want to do that. Or I wish I would have just walked up and just even given them a track or just said, salaamu alaikum, okay? So I encourage you. Acknowledge them on Muslim holidays, especially A'id al-Fitr, which is the Feast of Breaking Fast, which we just had, they just had, the Celebration of the End of Ramadan and A'id al-Adha, A'id al-Adha, which is the Feast of Sacrifice, which occurs about 70 days after Ramadan ends. This is the commemoration of Abraham's offering his son and God providing a ram. Wish them a happy holiday, which is in Arabic, A'id mubarak, A'id mubarak. That's all you have to say.  I encourage you to seek ways to become all things to all men. For example, in Morocco, it was common on their holidays to bring us baked goods and invite us to share and to meal with them. That's what they would do. Many times when it would be their holiday, they would invite us over to their house, they would bring us baked things. And so we also learn to bring them things on our holidays. That's, I would encourage you to do that. If you have any Muslim neighbors or people you know at work or wherever, when it's your holiday, do that, invite them over for a meal maybe and share with them why you celebrate. Believe me, it's gonna open so many doors. You watch and see, you watch and see. And actually what we began to do in Morocco and well, we actually, we did something here too because of the one Muslim family that we got to know here, we invited them on Christmas to come here to our church and they came. And they were amazed. But you can do that where you can begin to invite people on Christmas or Easter and share with them about why you celebrate this holiday. Next, be friendly.  Men, keep in mind, greet men. Women, greet women. Those of opposite gender can greet if in a mixed group of people with a verbal greeting, not a handshake. So in other words, if I was coming up and I greeted, I saw family like I did at the park on Friday. There was like three men and like two women. I would go over and what you, if you really wanna remember this and write this down, you greet from the right hand to the left. So I would come into the room and I would greet him and I would say, salamu alaykum, with my shaking my hand. And with a woman, I would just, I would not shake and I would just say salamu alaykum, okay? And I would continue greeting. So you greet from the right to the left. Let's see here. With familiarity comes the traditional Arab greeting, cheek to cheek on both sides, for men and women. Meaning men with men and women with women, okay? But that's what you do. When someone becomes closer to you and you've known them now for some time, you will see them greet on both sides like that. Normally it's four times, one, two, three, four. And the women do it a lot. They'll kiss sometimes a lot, a lot of times on one side and then another side. Very affectionate. And that's where you get a Middle Eastern culture greet each other with a holy kiss. That's what it was. It was the holy kiss on both sides of the cheeks. Women are more prone to greet with kisses on both cheeks, okay? Some do's and don'ts in Muslim evangelism. Now there are so many, okay? But just some things that I thought of that may help you. Number one, speak the truth in love with respect and meekness, you know? Once again, you can win the argument but lose the soul, right? But we have to be careful and let's remember to speak the truth but in love. And we need to always just be praying and saying, God, help me to know what that balance is. Give me that balance. Because I don't want to minimize the gospel. I don't want to water down the gospel but I don't want to get, because you can get angry. You know, when they begin to say things that anger us. And so it's so easy to get offended in our hearts but we have to know that the gospel will offend. But speaking the truth in love. And secondly, know your Bible. We just simply said we need to know our Bible. We need to study the scriptures and know it. Third, speak with boldness and authority. Stand upon the word of God. Remember that multitudes of saints have spilled their blood in standing for and preserving the Bible. The scripture is precious to us. God gave us the word of God. It is his love letter to us. And think of all the multitudes of saints. As it says in Hebrews 11, once since we are surrounded by such a grade of cloud of witnesses, they've gone before us and let's treat this with love and respect. Number four, focus on the major issues, not the minors.  And once again, when you're dealing with cults as well, you could easily get off on these minor issues. Things that are really, really, really not that important. Major issues, okay? Who is Jesus? What did he do? Who is Muhammad? And how do we know he's a prophet? Is the Quran the word of God? How do you obtain salvation? Why the blood atonement? Okay, and some of those major issues that we talked about, the objections, the Muslims' objections to Christianity, okay? Number five, commend them for their devotion to Allah and their spirituality, for their sincere desire to seek the truth. You know, that many times opens up a conversation to simply commend them and say, you know, I really respect the fact that you always think about God and you want to please God. You know, I commend you for that, for your zeal. And watch what God does to open up a door. Number six, don't laugh at beliefs they express to you, just as you wouldn't want them to laugh at you. And I have to admit, there have been times where I've been in conversations and sometimes it's been normally with a group of people. And they've said something, talking about something in the Bible that we believe and like some of the people with them are like, they laugh at something that we believe in the Bible. And you know, as a human, it really, it hurts.  But you have to just ask the Holy Spirit to control you. And I've seen this at debates and I don't like it. I've seen this where there's a, you know, a Muslim apologist and a Christian apologist and they've given some points and the Christian will say something about the Islamic doctrine or about Muhammad or something and you'll hear Christians laugh about it.   Now they can laugh, you know, if they laugh, they're not saved. That's the thing, see? If they laugh, so be it, but let it not be me. Number seven, ask them questions about their faith and practices. Muslims will like the fact that you're inquiring and not condemning or criticizing them. You know, I've encouraged you before, ask them about their beliefs, ask them, why do you do that? I notice you do this, ask them questions, ask them questions. Number eight, don't use a Bible that you have written in when sharing with Muslims, but rather a Bible that is unwritten in. Be aware when handling it, I have an ant crawling on my Bible, be aware when handling the Bible or giving it as a gift to use the right hand, okay? The right hand is the hand of honor in Islam and so keep that in mind. When you're handling the Bible or when you wanna give them a gift, give it with the right hand. When you would be invited to eat with a Muslim family, you always eat with your right hand. You shake with your right hand. They enter in the house or anywhere with their right foot. So these are just some things to keep in mind. And in fact, I would encourage you even when I have given a Bible as a gift, that I have kissed it, because they are understanding that you hold the Bible with great respect and it's precious to you. And I have seen Muslim taxis, taxi drivers take the Bible from me and kiss it too. And then they are seeing you holding it with respect rather than them respecting it higher than you respect the Bible. Because what a Muslim will do in their house, they take the Quran and they put it on the highest, so the highest point in the room, they put it on the highest point, okay? So just some things to keep in mind. If inviting a Muslim, number nine, to your home for a meal or taking them out to eat, be sensitive to them, okay? Just, we have to always be sensitive. Only serve or eat kosher foods, halal, no pork or ham. We just, sometimes we can forget about, they are a Muslim, okay? They're not a Christian yet. So I need to be sensitive to where they're at. I'm not going to impose things on them that they are not, okay? So let's keep that aware, be sensitive to that. Number 10, be sincere with them. Sincerity, so important. If you don't know the answer to a question, tell them you will research and find out. Don't just give an answer that you're not sure about or say something that you're not, you can't back it up, okay, be sincere. And be sincere about your beliefs, be sincere about your testimony, about what God has done in your life, be sincere. Number 11, express your love for the Muslim people and interest in their religion. There was a time that I was in another state and it was Ramadan and we were invited by another church to speak and we were there for a couple of days and we were walking on the beach, I'll never forget it, and I saw on this beach there was like nobody and there was a Muslim family, a man and I think a woman and maybe a couple of children and they were all dressed in black and right away my heart starts beating and I'm thinking, you know, we were just walking on the beach and I'm thinking there's no way that I can come and walk on the beach and then leave without saying a word to them. So I was just praying, Lord, what do you want me to say? And the Lord just laid on my heart to go over to them, greet them and just say to them, I want you to know that I'm a Christian and that as a Christian, I'm praying for you and I love you. And that was it, that was it. And the man just said, thank you. That's what he said, he didn't know what else to say. So I just, you know what, we need to share our love for them. And God will do what he does. He will take those things and plant them. But express your love, tell them that you will pray for them. Okay, there have been times where I have said, I'm gonna pray for you. If there ever arises an occasion for you to pray for a Muslim that you know, maybe there's a sickness, maybe there's marital problems, whatever, you know, pray for them because I guarantee guys, you are the only one that will ever say that.  But you are one that says, I'm gonna pray for you. And they will open up, pray for them and perhaps even lay hands on them. Okay, there have been opportunities where God opened the door where this person was sick and I asked him, can I pray for you and I'm gonna lay hands on you because the Bible tells us that we can lay hands on the sick and they will be healed and I have prayed and they've let me pray. Number 12, give God's blessings to them. Especially if they curse or ridicule you. That sounds funny, especially if they curse or ridicule you. But that's exactly what Jesus says. He says, I tell you, bless and do not curse. Do good to them, treat them with love and kindness. Okay, these are once again kind of elementary but we need to hear them. I need to know them, I need to be reminded of them. And number 13, preach the gospel. Be unashamed, be willing to take risks for God. Lead them to the cross, rely on the Holy Spirit. I just, we have to be very careful because I have heard so many times of people wanting simply to close a deal. And what do I mean by that? In sharing the gospel and wanting to say, do you want to accept Jesus? And it seems so like, just recently, and I thought, this person had just 10 minute conversation and asked them, do you want to accept Jesus in your heart? And I'm thinking, where is the cross? Where is the repentance? Where is, do they understand their sin? Where is their conviction of their sin? Okay, and we have to be so careful where we want to close the deal so that we can say, hey, you know what, this person I prayed with to receive Jesus. We have to lead them to the cross. Are you leading them to the cross? Do they understand their guiltiness before God? Do they? That person needs to. And we need to rely on the Holy Spirit. Remember, you might be the only genuine Christian that God ever places in a Muslim's path. Now, maybe not. Maybe there are many Christians in their path, but what if, what if you are the only Christian that they ever come across? When that Muslim steps into eternity and stands before the glory of Christ and judgment, what will they say about your witness to them? Will they say, he loved me or she loved me? She showed me the truth in Christ he cared and went out of his way to demonstrate it. He was just like Jesus. Or will they say he was no different than anyone else? He treated me the same way everyone else treats me. He never told me about Christ. I didn't even know he was a Christian. These are just things that, you know, I think about them.  You know, I think we as Christians need to be a different, we need to be so different than the world. And we need to always just be praying, Lord, who would you have me to share with today? Lord, put me in contact with those people that I would be sensitive to your Holy Spirit. So this is what I have for you today. Any questions or comments? There's my email. Feel free to email me and any questions you may have also concerning women ministering to women. My wife also, we share the same email so she also can check that and, you know, any questions I can direct towards my mom if you have any questions. Please keep our family in prayer and the ministry of equipping saints to reach Muslims as well as open and effective doors to reach the Muslim community around us locally. And I would also ask you to please pray for the ongoing ministry in Morocco in evangelism and church planning. I still, God willing, if the Lord allows I would still, my desires to continue to go to Morocco, whether it be once a year or whether it be every two years.  I know several of them and be able to teach them the word and encourage them.  And, you know, God's given me the language and I wanna use it for his glory and pray that God would put, you know, he's already been putting Moroccan Muslims in our path as I share with you, one family and several other people. So I just pray I wanna be used of God, you know. And my prayer, I'm praying constantly for all of you that God will use you and I would love to hear stories. You know, if you have a story or a friend or someone that God is putting in your path, please share that with us.


I'm Neil Diamond Greene, I'm the UK Data Service Impact Manager. What we're interested in is trying to find out how research and research that's used data held by the UK Data Service is impacting not just academic researchers, but policy makers, local communities, groups, wherever it's really making a difference to the world. We had seven early career researchers here with us today who we funded, fellowship for two years, to support them in looking different ways that they can impact with their research. It's been a really great opportunity today to find out about the different sorts of research that they're doing, to learn about some of the challenges that they're having with also the opportunities. What's really great is that two of the fellows from different cohorts have actually begun to collaborate on some different projects as well. And it's great that people have been able to share the sort of practice and stories and that we've been able to give them some input into thinking about some different ideas about what impact could be and also how they can develop their voices in early career research.


These irradiated maggots are a secret weapon helping to lift Thai farmers out of poverty. The destructive oriental fruit fly used to cause export bans on Thai fruit. Farmers tried fighting back with chemicals but nothing worked. Then nuclear scientists helped them create an army of infertile fruit flies. Five million of these are bred every week. This is a nuclear-based insect birth control method called the sterile insect technique. Now farmers in Chantaburi province have stopped using harmful chemicals and their eco-friendly fruit are accepted around the world with fruit exports growing every year.


So if, you know, nearly half of all blacks are not okay with white people, according to this poll, not according to me, according to this poll, that's a hate group. That's a hate group. And I don't want to have anything to do with them. And I would say, you know, based on the current way things are going, the best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from black people.  So that's what I did. I went to a neighborhood where, you know, I have a very low black population, because unfortunately, you know, there's a high correlation between the density, and this is according to Don Lemon, by the way. So here I'm just quoting Don Lemon when he notes that the, when he lived in a mostly black neighborhood, there were a bunch of problems that he didn't see in white neighborhoods. So even Don Lemon sees a big difference in your own quality of living based on where you live and who is there. So I think it makes no sense whatsoever as a white citizen of America to try to help black citizens anymore. It doesn't make sense.    And when you add the 21% of black respondents who don't know, well, that accounts for the nearly half of black respondents that Adams claims are racist. Now the slogan, it's okay to be white, was created back in 2017 by 4chan trolls in an effort to go liberals into playing into the rights anti-white racism allegations. But the slogan was quickly adopted by actual white supremacists.  As Philip Bump of The Washington Post put it, do you agree with this statement all lives matter? No one cognizant of American politics in the last decade would not recognize that statement for what it is. It's not a comment about what their lives matter. It's a rebuttal to the activist phrase, black lives matter. It's not about all lives. It's about the black lives matter movement, quote, it's okay to be white involves a similarly loaded if less broadly recognized context. So the question itself is extremely bizarre and no reputable polling company would ask that question if a polling company that's actually credible tried to figure out racial animus among different demographics. That isn't how they would necessarily word a poll. But Rasmussen is not a reputable company. Bump continues, in the wake of the 2020 election, it shared misinformation about fraud and backed up Trump's efforts to reject electors. In recent months, it has boosted anti-vaccination conspiracy theories. Its polls, meanwhile, are often sponsored by hard-right organizations and causes. Now their methodology, not to mention, is dubious at best, according to data journalist Elliot G. Morris, I'll link to that down below. And I think that most people recognize at this point that Rasmussen is not to be trusted.  Yeah, it's deeply, deeply unserious, explicitly racist. But thankfully, he's paying the consequences for his racist words because this capitalist is seeing how the free market reacts to overt racism. He tweeted out, Dilbert has been canceled from all newspapers, websites, calendars and books because I gave some advice everyone agreed with. I don't think so. My syndication partner canceled me. He continues, my publisher for non-Dilbert books has canceled my upcoming book and the entire backlist. Still no disagreement about my point of view. He's insisting that people agree with him. My book agent canceled me too. But it gets even better because he's going to, while trying to defend himself and doubling and tripling and quadrupling down, going to claim that it's actually the white people who are racist against him and it's not really black people because he also identifies as black. Just let me read it to you. I've lost three careers to direct racism so far. Crocker Bank, Pacific Bell and cartooning. All three were perpetrated by white people for their own gain. No black person has ever discriminated against me. That's partly why I identified as black for several years. He explains, I lost my TV show for being white. When UPN decided it would focus on an African-American audience. That was the third job I lost for being white. The other two in corporate America.  What I get from this is that he is definitely the victim and I feel so bad for him. When are white people in America finally going to catch a break? He's lost everything. He's only worth $75 million. What left can they possibly take from him? This is conservative politics in America for all of my international viewers. This is common.  Even if you say things that you know are going to be controversial. Now he is right about one thing, the backlash has been swift. Washington Post explains, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and the USA Today network of hundreds of newspapers were among publications that announced they would stop publishing Dilbert after Adam's racist rant on YouTube on Wednesday. Asked on Saturday about how many newspapers still carried the strip, a workplace satire he created in 1989, Adam stole the post by Monday around zero. In other words, he's in the finding out phase after freaking around. Now he tried to counter getting canceled with a boycott of his own and he kind of just floated that into the ether, but unfortunately it didn't go too well because on Twitter he tweeted out, Are you considering canceling your newspaper subscription if you have one because Dilbert got canceled and only 16.7% said yes, this is his own followers by the way, but I voted as well. He followed up by saying, I don't favor boycotts in most cases. I was just curious unless, you know, maybe you do want a boycott. You don't. Okay. Never mind then. I don't support boycotts.  Not just the racism, but insanity more broadly speaking. So this to me is not surprising. Nobody's defending him, including his own followers, although there is one individual who decided to step up to the plate. I am of course referring to the owner of Twitter, Ellen Musk will or missed of the Washington Post reports, Twitter and Tesla chief Elon Musk defended Scott Adams, the under fire creator of Dilbert in a series of tweets Sunday blasting media organizations for dropping his comic strip after Adam said that white people should get the hell away from black people. Replying to tweets about the controversy, Musk said it is actually the media that is racist against whites and Asians. He offered no criticism of Adam's comments in which the cartoonist called black people a hate group and said, I don't want to have anything to do with them. Now there's a reason why Musk hasn't addressed Adam's actual comments here. We'll get to that in a second here. But if you were to look at Scott Adams feed, he is absolutely not apologetic at all. He's doubling down and Musk responded to one of his tweets where he's trying to defend himself. For example, Adams wrote, is it racist to avoid racists who are the same race as each other?  Now Musk responded to that saying simultaneously an interesting question and a tongue twister.  Now the most funny aspect about this story is that Elon Musk was defending Scott Adams presumably before he even knew what he was saying. So he replied to another one of Adam's tweets where he talks about Dilbert getting dropped and asks, what exactly are they complaining about? But then he suspiciously deleted that tweet. And as Matt Bender put it, I guess he found out. So Elon Musk decided to defend Scott Adams when no one else would before he even knew what Scott Adams said because he probably just assumed, well, you know, liberals say everything is racist. I'm sure that Scott Adams said something completely innocuous and wasn't racist at all. But then he looked up what Scott Adams said and then he thought, oh, that's what he said. Oh, OK, OK, I'm going to nope out of that one.  So yeah, I love that Elon Musk decided to jump in and defend Scott Adams, because if you know anything about Scott Adams, if you followed him throughout the years, as I've alluded to earlier, this isn't necessarily surprising. This is for sure the most explicit and overt he's been in his racism, but he's made comments before that are terrible.  Elon Musk can't really come up with some sort of defense. There's no plausible deniability there. So what does he do?  I love it because these right wingers are clowns and they automatically are susceptible to be sympathetic towards any right winger who's peddling this victim narrative, right? So he sees Scott Adams. He's been victimized by cancel culture. He himself has been a victim of cancel culture. So he thinks, well, it must be for a terrible reason that he was canceled. And then he sees maybe everyone is right to be outraged here. I just love it because we have two clowns and they're making a fool of themselves, but it's not the first time and it probably won't be the last time.


So a lot of different fans, they have a lot of different favorite times of the year when it comes to football season, besides football season. Some fans, like myself, probably our favorite time of the year is free agency because I love all the craziness, all the trades, all the signings, all this player moving to that team and this player moving to that team and who could my team possibly get to take them over the top and make them that much better? I love the excitement of it. I love the drama of it. I love free agency so much. But then you have another set of people where we're nine days away from their favorite three days out of the football year. And that is the draft. You have a lot of people who absolutely love the draft. They love the pre-draft process. They love looking at all the prospects. They love analyzing and going over their strengths, their weaknesses, their traits, their everything. And shout out to them for that because we're close. We're close. We are nine days away from finally getting so many questions answered. We're nine days away from finding out if the Ravens are actually gonna stay at 14. We're nine days away from seeing if they're gonna trade up or trade down. We're nine days away from all the speculation that they could possibly trade back into the first round and take a second first round pick. We're nine days away to seeing exactly what the Ravens are gonna do coming draft time. But the Ravens, this is something that they've been preparing for a very, very long time because you know that they love the draft as well. And part of the preparation process is bringing in some different guys on some pre-draft visits. And they of course have had different guys come in. I think KT, he came in a couple of weeks ago. Penning, I think Linda Bomb came in too. But anyway, a guy that has been getting a lot of buzz from a lot of Ravens fans. And I feel like it's one of those things where a lot of Ravens fans either love them or hate them. From what I've been seeing, I feel like a lot more Ravens fans love them more than hate them. And that is one Jordan Davis. It was said by Tom Palacero that Jordan Davis, he already had his pre-draft visits with the Ravens. And of course we know with Jordan Davis, he, that's a big boy. I'm a big boy, but no, no, no, Jordan Davis, that's a big boy right there, man. And I remember when I first initially watched film on him, I loved it. I loved it. Because he isn't an Aaron Donald, but he also isn't a Brandon Williams. And when I say Brandon Williams, that's not a shot at Brandon Williams. But with Jordan Davis, just thinking about what he could do for the Baltimore Ravens, if they do decide to choose him at pick number 14, or wherever they just so happen to pick from, could be higher, could be later, we'll see. But if they were to choose a Jordan Davis in the first round, because he's not gonna get out of the first round. He ain't making a pass the first round. He will be a first round draft pick. That is for sure. But if they are to get him, I wouldn't be mad at that at all. And actually my expectations for the Ravens, this upcoming draft in the first round, if they just stay at four, if they only have one first round pick, I am like 150% sure that it'll be defense first.  But then in offense, in that second round, that's just the way that I see it. And that's what we've been talking about for the longest, y'all know, first three rounds, Ravens draft in the receiver, first three rounds. I keep saying, and not the only way that that changes is if the Ravens trade for somebody, but other than that, first three rounds, Ravens draft in the receiver. But we're not here to talk about that. But with Jordan Davis, what he could bring, just his presence, his presence alone, and something that we've been talking about all off season, both on offense, on defense, we've been talking about just making everybody's job easier, helping out everybody around you, taking a lot off of their plate so they can be more relaxed, they can be more comfortable, they can just be more fluid in whatever it is that they have to do and whatever their assignment is.   My goodness, especially if Ravens getting ready to move to a four, three, he's just command so much attention, man. He command so much attention. He would make whatever other interior defensive linemen's job next to him easier, whether it's Kaleas Campbell, whether it's Madda BK, whether it's Broderick Washington, whether it's somebody, Michael Pierce, he would make their job so much easier and then you think about, you know the Ravens number one priority on defense, stop the run.  And then you have Adafi away as an edge guy, you have Jadavian Kle- you have whoever else as your other edge guy and it could just be a beautiful thing, man. It could be a beautiful thing and I just, I would love it because it makes the interior defensive linemen's job easier for the edge guys. It gives them an opportunity to go one-on-one with the offensive tackles on the opposing team. With the linebackers, remember Ray Lewis? Ray Lewis specifically requested for the, well, not even requested, he told the Ravens, hey, you need to give me some help up front. You need to give me some help up front, what do they do? They say, oh, okay, sorry, sorry, Ray, sorry, we apologize, oh, sorry. Lody Nada. And you see what a difference Lody Nada made when it come to the Ravens. Now I wouldn't expect Jordan Davis to be a Lody Nada, no, but just his presence, what that could do for Patrick Queen. We saw what, we saw how Patrick Queen, how better he looked when he played loose. How better he looked when, cause he just got his confidence back because you could tell like, again, early on he was like a little bit shaky. Then they brought Josh Bryant's back again and that allowed Patrick, they alleviated some of his duties and that just allowed him to be more loose, played more confidently and he played better. And then toward the end of the season, it did still get a little bit shaky, but it was better than what it had been at the beginning of the season. So he was, he started doing this thing.  For those offensive linemen to be fully engaged with him, cause it cannot just be one guy. It's not just gonna be one guy. He, the attention that he commands, again, it will make the linebackers jobs that much easier. Then you think about the secondary with the secondary. If the past rush is not, if Jordan Davis is making the interior job that much easier, then he's making the edge guys job that much easier. So he's allowing them to get to the quarterback that much easier. So that allows the secondary to have to be on those islands for a lot less amount of time, a short amount of time. Cause you know, like a corner, this is where corners can be very tricky because a corner can get overrated because they can get overrated by a good pass rush. And I mean, what we know that the Ravens have some actually actual good corners in Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey. So imagine if their job, which they're both pretty good at, but imagine if their job got even easier. Imagine that if there, if Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters job got even easier, that will be beautiful. And then that makes Chuck Clark's job that much easier that will make Marcus Williams introduction to this defense that much easier. That's what the theme should be. And this is for whoever it is that they get on the interior, whether it's Jordan Davis or it ends up being somebody else, whoever is there, they really need to get somebody who commands attention, somebody who is very disruptive, somebody who can cause havoc in the middle. They really do because that would make everybody's job that much easier. That much easier. Imagine Jordan Davis next to Matta BK. We've been seeing Flash as a Matta BK here and there throughout his past couple of years in the league, which is his first couple of years in the league. We've been seeing the Flashers, but I would imagine somebody like Jordan Davis who just would command so much attention that he would be able to help Matta BK.  And not even necessarily go off, but he would really help the Ravens to bring out that potential that we keep hearing about with Matta BK that we've seen here and there from Matta BK, but we just haven't got to see it consistently. He would be able to bring that out or help bring that out. Imagine a Ravens defense where they can actually collapse a pocket in a quarterback. Imagine that. Because they haven't had that. They haven't been as defense that just collapses a pocket, man.  Because Ravens, that's Ravens right there, man, as y'all already know. That's Ravens all day. Ravens, I think they probably led the league the past couple of years in almost sex. And we just didn't make it there. Ah, we got the passwords. We got pressure, but we just couldn't close the deal. Imagine that. So again, with them bringing in him on a visit, it doesn't, not that it doesn't mean anything, but it won't mean anything unless they draft him. But the visits are just to sort of get to know to play a little bit more, go over some stuff with him, check him out in person. Because you, of course, you've seen all the film. You watched all the games. You watched all the tape. But this is sort of like a part of the interview process. And just to really get to know them. So we'll see if Jordan Davis, if as much as the Ravens are really getting to know him, if they end up making that move before somebody else does now. Because again, they got people in front of them that could certainly select him. But I think it's gonna be tough. It's gonna be tough. And I know that first night of the draft, it's gonna be crazy. I know Ravens Twitter is gonna be crazy. I know the YouTube during the last stream, the team keep it clean. First round draft last year, y'all know how we do it. That's gonna be crazy because Ravens are gonna have a lot of options. They're gonna have so many options as far as who they could select. Whether offensive players, defensive players, like I said, I still do believe first round they go in defense no matter what. But they're gonna have a lot of options. And since they're gonna have so many options, they're gonna have a lot of quality people that are on the board when they do pick. There's gonna be a lot of people that agree with whoever they pick and a lot of people that disagree with whoever they pick. And that's just how it's gonna be. And that's how it is especially in the early rounds. Because so much depends on these early round players. But the biggest thing that we hope for, well me personally, the biggest thing that I hope for, that the Ravens really go after in this draft. You have 10 picks. Again, I don't expect them to use all 10, but at the same time, as we get closer, they got a lot of little holes to fill. On offense, you could get some more quality youthful offensive linemen. Of course y'all know I've been talking about getting the impact wide receiver from this draft unless they trade for somebody. But that's what they could do on offense. Oh, and another tight end. Another dynamic sort of mark Andrew stretch the field type of tight end. Now you can wait for a little bit to do that. But then on defense, you got holes that, kind of got holes at lineback. You got holes at edge. You got interior defensive linemen. You got holes at cornerback. As far as just the depth at cornerback, because after your two starters, like it's like, yikes. Even though I would expect Brandon Stevens to play a lot of cornerback. He'll probably play a lot of outside corner. And Marlon Humphrey will probably go to the slot. But that's the early projection with the draft coming up. All of that could change. All of that could change. But you know Brandon Stevens, he gonna be on the field. You know he's gonna be on the field because Ravens, they adore him. And again, he, as the season went on, he got better and better and better. So he's gonna be on the field a lot though. But yeah man, this should be, however the draft goes, man, they just need to get impact players. They need to get guys, and I know not every single draft pick can be a starter. Not every single draft pick is going to see the field right away. Cause you got guys that are ahead of them. But especially as far as those early picks, you gotta try to get as many impactful players as you can. Guys that you really, not just guys that you say, oh man, this guy is gonna be a great Raven. I don't know. But guys that you actually really feel can come in and contribute right away. Right away, especially with the early picks. Guys that you could feel could start right away. Not guys, oh well, we'll bring them along guys. No, no, no, no, no. Guys that can come in right away and make a difference on your team. So it's gonna be fun. We're gonna be watching and waiting live streaming of course. So I'm excited, man. Because like I said earlier, a lot of questions will finally get answered. Of course, the draft always is full of surprises too. Some guys go a lot earlier than projected. Some guys go a lot later than projected. But that's all part of draft season. And I know y'all draft heads, y'all draft nerds, y'all draft people. I know y'all are loving every bit of this right now. And I'm happy for y'all. I'm happy for y'all. Because one thing that I love about draft season is I love how the people who, where this is their favorite part of the year, they get to share that information with everybody else. And you can really tell who's very passionate about it and who really loves it and who really like, cause people, they be doing that research. Cause a lot of people who, especially who watch college football, they've been watching these guys all year. Well, obviously during the season, they've been watching these guys, they've been seeing these guys progress and whatnot. And now these guys are draft eligible and it's like, okay, I know about that guy. Oh, I know about that guy. Oh, I know about him. So it's gonna be a fun time. Anyway, team keep it clean. I love y'all. I appreciate y'all and we out.