The Newsletter of IBTM
with Douglas Jacoby

Good afternoon from coastal Northwest England!

Today’s offerings:

  • A truly important book on LGBTQ+. (The book featured last week’s newsletter was free for all website members. This one isn’t free, but it’s worth the price!)
  • A talk on gender transitioning. (In November I met an Aussie scholar. His material on gender reassignment surgery was thought-provoking and courageous.)
  • Women of Worth podcast: Naomi series to begin. (The first talks go live on International Women’s Day, the day after tomorrow.)
  • AIM Evidences & Evangelism. (New video. It’s not too late to join our current course, or sign up for our day with Mike Licona.)
  • A few selected financial needs. (If you are in a position to help provide teaching / learning materials for Christians globally.)
  • Quotes on the heart. (From Pascal, Tozer, and Highfield.)

Hope you enjoy the bulletin!

Naomi, Boaz, and Justice

Vicki’s Women of Worth podcast resumes on Friday 8 March, going live on International Women’s Day. The first talk is a short introduction on Naomi, followed by the reading of Ruth in The Message paraphrase. Then next is Naomi, Boaz & Justice. It’s a great lesson — thoughtful, insightful, and I think you’ll like it. If you aren’t signed up for the podcast, click HERE.

Women of Worth Podcast: Naomi Series

Follow Vicki Jacoby as she ponders anew the women of the Bible, the well-known and also the little-known. Women of Worth is not only a fresh look at scores of interesting biblical characters…

THE HEART

The next few weeks our cool quotes will center on the theme of the heart.

As the Proverbs urge us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Prov 4:23).

  • The heart has its reasons, which reason itself does not know. — Blaise Pascal
  • Human associations do not escape but mirror and magnify the vices and virtues of the human heart. — Ron Highfield
  • The neglected heart will soon be a heart overrun with worldly thoughts; the neglected life will soon become a moral chaos; the church that is not jealously protected by mighty intercession and sacrificial labors will before long become the abode of every evil bird and the hiding place for unsuspected corruption. The creeping wilderness will soon take over that church that trusts in its own strength and forgets to watch and pray. — A. W. Tozer

Male and Female God Created Them

Rubel Shelly explores the sensitive topics of sexuality and gender while maintaining both a compassionate tone and a deep faithfulness to the word of God. It is extremely well researched, and shows that long-term, committed "monogamous" homosexual relationships were common in the ancient world. The sexual landscape 2000 years ago, in fact, was much broader than that of our own time, and was well known to Jesus and his apostles.

This is far and away the best book on the subject I have ever read. I thanked the author on the phone, and in fact will meet with him next time I’m in the US. Male and Female God Created Them: A Biblical Review of LGBTQ+ Claims: Shelly, Rubel. ISBN 9780899000510 is available HERE.

Gender Transitioning: Is it Ethical?

Late last year I met a man in the registration line at a conference. It turned out Robert Smith and I had some things in common: theological training, interest in science, living in Sydney, and more. I asked what he was teaching on, and when he told me the topic was “The Ethics of Gender Transitioning: A Response to Three ‘Affirming’ Arguments,” I said I’d be there. And it was worth it!

You’ll find a similar presentation by Robert and his wife offer by clicking HERE.

Financial Needs

If you’d like to contribute to the ministry, a number of opportunities are listed below. Your gift will help to provide teaching materials (unless specified otherwise).

  • $604—Saudi Arabia: I will be visiting in May.
  • $1000—United Arab Emirates: I will be visiting in May.
  • $993—Colombia, Jamaica, Estonia, Philippines, India, Jordan (heading up a ministry to Muslims). Will meet leaders from these countries in Turkey.
  • $2,696—Nigeria (Jos): This is the Muslim section of the country, one often troubled by extremists.
  • $233—Bangladesh (Khagracchari): This remote town is isolated, without roads or internet and a 2-hour walk to the nearest grocery store.
  • $94—Sierra Leone: For prayer books already given to Christians in this West African (largely Muslim) nation.    
  • $6,800—Nepalese school uniforms for 100 children: fuller details available at website.
  • $17,403—Fred George PhD fund, 16 months

Click DONATE and scroll down to Teaching Materials. Please also send me an email indicating to which area you would like your donation applied. Many thanks!

Evidences & Evangelism

Our current live course runs Feb 17th-Jun 29th.

In a world where questions and doubts surround matters of faith, it's crucial to equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills to engage in meaningful conversations. Whether you're a seasoned believer looking to deepen your understanding or a curious traveler seeking answers, this course is designed for you. Led by experts in apologetics and evangelism, this course combines theological foundations with practical techniques, ensuring you're equipped to navigate complex discussions with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

It’s still not too late to join! Sign up for the whole course, or just attend Saturday 27 April with evidences expert Mike Licona.

Click for the explanatory video. You can sign up at the AIM website.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions. (Just reply to this newsletter, preferably without history.)

March Events

  • 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st: New Year’s to Easter series (Zoomunion)
  • 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th: A Call to Rise, with Joel Landi (Milton, GA: Zoom)
  • 9th: European School of Missions: Worldviews (Paris: Zoom)
  • 16th: European School of Missions: Worldviews (Paris: Zoom)
  • 16th: AIM Pacific: Wisdom Literature & Primeval Narrative (Honolulu: Zoom)
  • 23rd: AIM UK-Ireland: Spiritual Life (Watford, England)
  • 24th-27th: Spiritual Retreat (Aberdeen, Scotland)
  • All month: AIM US: Evidences & Evangelism (Atlanta, Zoom)

Thanks!

We highly value and need your prayers for our ministry, especially now in a time of high flux, widespread confusion, and transition in the Christian world. Thank you.

Next week: What to do when Mormons or JWs come knocking, fresh podcasts in the Women of Worth series, and more.

Till then,
Douglas