One of the great moments in my young life (I was only in middle school at the time) was when my parents took my sister and me to hear a concert by Mahalia Jackson, the renowned black Gospel singer. I'll never forget it. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. She poured forth her soul in song, and I have rarely been so moved. Gospel hymns have the power to touch our inner being, and I feel rather confident that each of us, at various points in our lives, have been affected by the Spirit as He moved upon us, and within us, via the medium of music and song.

For as far back as I can remember (and that goes back a good many years, for I will be 60-years-old on my next birthday), one of the hymns that has been sung time and time again as members of the congregation "prepare their minds" to surround the Lord's Table is "I Gave My Life For Thee." In the last line of each verse there are these haunting questions: "I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou giv'n for Me?" ... "I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?" ... "I've borne, I've borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?" ... "I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou bro't for Me?" These questions, and this hymn, were written by a beautiful young woman (only 21 years old at the time) by the name of Frances Ridley Havergal. She was truly a child prodigy in a great many ways, and many of the hymns sung in the church today came from her inspired pen. Such favorites as "True-Hearted, Whole-Hearted" .... "Take My Life, And Let It Be" .... "Like A River Glorious" .... "Is It For Me, Dear Savior?" .... "Who Is On The Lord's Side?" .... just to name a very few, were all written by this devoted servant of Jesus Christ.

Frances was born on December 14, 1836 in the village of Astley, Worcestershire, England. She was the youngest of six children when she was born. At the time of her arrival, her three sisters (Miriam, Maria and Ellen) were 19, 15 and 13 respectively, and her brothers (Henry and Frank) were 16 and 7. Needless to say, being the baby, she was the focal point of great attention from the family, parents and siblings alike. Her beloved father was the renowned English hymnist William Henry Havergal (1793-1870), often hailed as "the foremost church musician and composer of sacred music in England in his generation." He was also a very well-known Anglican clergyman, and quite a few of his sermons, as well as over 100 of his hymns, have been preserved. Her devoted mother was named Jane Head, the fifth daughter of William Head of East Grinstead. She and William Henry Havergal were married on May 2, 1816. One of the two older brothers of the young Frances, Henry East Havergal, went on to become a famous organist, as well as a minister in the Church of England. Her middle name -- Ridley -- was bestowed upon her in memory of Nicholas Ridley (died: October 16, 1555), one of the three men who came to be known as the "Oxford Martyrs" (Hugh Latimer and Thomas Cranmer were the other two). He was burned at the stake for his "heretical" teachings, and also for his support of Lady Jane Grey. Frances' mother died on July 5, 1848, when Frances was only 11. This was quite traumatic for her. On July 29, 1851 her father remarried: a lady by the name of Caroline Ann Cooke. She and Frances became very close. Caroline would also precede Frances in death, however, passing from this life on May 26, 1878, as would her dear father, who died on April 19, 1870.

As previously noted, Frances (whom her father lovingly called "Little Quicksilver") was a brilliant child, and gifted in many different fields. She could read by the age of three, and at the age of four she had begun memorizing the Bible. During her very brief lifetime she committed to memory most of the New Testament books, the Psalms, the book of Isaiah, and the Minor Prophets. She was fluent in a number of languages, including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Welsh, Italian and German. She delighted in studying both the OT and NT writings in their original languages. She wrote her first hymn at the age of seven. Frances was also an accomplished musician and singer (being a trained soloist with an "angelic voice"). She was a brilliant piano player, and had offers to play professionally (which she turned down). One biographer wrote, "Frances played the pianoforte with skill, sang with charm, and composed. Her friends delighted to hear her interpret the works of the great masters, especially Handel, Beethoven and Mendelssohn, much of whose work she knew by heart. Her playing of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata was absolutely unforgettable." Another biographer wrote, "She had musical genius, and could play through Handel and much of Mendelssohn and Beethoven" by memory, without the music before her.

Frances had a number of men seek her hand in marriage, but she made the conscious choice to remain unmarried throughout her life, believing that to marry would distract and diminish the purity and singleness of her devotion to Jesus, whom she truly sought to serve to the best of her ability during every waking moment. She would literally exhaust herself in her writing and composing, as well as in her personal ministry unto others. She wrote numerous books and hymns and poems (which were highly valued on both sides of the Atlantic), but also spent long hours in social causes that she believed would further the cause of Christ on earth. She was very involved in the Temperance movement, for example, in foreign missions, Sunday School work for underprivileged boys, gospel missions among the sailors, and the YWCA. Hundreds of men and women, from various nations, would write her long letters, seeking advice on numerous personal concerns, and she would always try to write them back with helpful, spiritual counsel. She also started the Flannel Petticoat Society, which gave out clothing to poor children. She believed that to follow Christ, one must care for the temporal needs of others as well as the spiritual needs of others.

She made trips to a number of nearby countries for the purpose of trying to encourage others to devote their own lives to Jesus Christ, just as she had done. She had always been very spiritually focused as a young person (although for a time she felt herself to be unworthy of God's grace, and feared He would cast her away at the end). However, she spent much time in reflection on His Word, and eventually came to have a better appreciation of His love and mercy. It was this she sought to share with others at every opportunity. As stated by one of her biographers, "She knew that the real need of people was to hear about Christ, not just as an historical figure, but to be guided into a living and vital relationship, not just religion; knowing Jesus as their personal Saviour." Frances would quite often say, "There must be full surrender before there can be full blessedness." She was baptized at the age of eighteen in Worcester Cathedral by John Cawood, who was a very well-known, respected minister/hymn writer during that period of time. She later proclaimed, "I committed my soul to the Savior, and earth and heaven seemed brighter from that moment." Frances took very seriously her commitment to the Lord, a devotion expressed quite beautifully in these words in one of her best-known hymns: "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee ... Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee!"

There is an interesting story behind the writing of the above hymn. On February 1, 1874, Frances arrived at a home in London for a five day party. A total of ten people were invited to be part of this five day visit/party, some of whom were not Christians. Some of the others were Christians, but were "not rejoicing" in their relationship with the Lord. Frances was touched by their condition, and she prayed fervently. "Lord, give me all in this house." Her prayer was that during this visit of five days she might touch every soul within that house. God used her in a powerful way, and by the end of the visit, every person had either accepted Christ or renewed their commitment to Him. The last night she spent in the house (Feb. 4th) she was so excited by what God had done in the lives of these ten people that she couldn't sleep. Thus, she finally arose and penned all the verses to the hymn "Take My Life, And Let It Be." In her own words, she described this night: "I passed most of the night in renewal of my consecration; and these little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my heart one after the other till they finished with 'ever, only, all for Thee.'" This hymn has often been lovingly referred to as, and indeed was originally known as, "The Consecration Hymn." Frances actually lived the words that she wrote. For example, the phrase "take my silver and my gold" was evidenced when she took all of her fine pieces of jewelry (50 in all) and gave them to the Women's Missionary Society to be used for evangelizing the lost.

Frances never really believed that her musical and lyrical talent was of her own making, but regarded her writings as being sent directly by God. She referred to her hymns as "curious musical visions." In a letter written to her mother, she stated, "I hear strange and very beautiful chords, generally full, slow and grand, succeeding each other in most interesting sequences. I do not invent them, I could not; they pass before my mind, and I only listen." On another occasion she wrote, "Writing is praying with me, for I never seem to write even a verse by myself, and feel like a little child writing what is dictated." In 1874, she wrote the following to a friend: "The Master has not put a chest of poetic gold into my possession and said, 'Now use it as you like!' but He keeps the gold and gives it to me piece by piece just when He will and as much as He will and no more." In other words, she didn't draw from her own storehouse, but these golden nuggets (hymns, poems, writings) were given out by God when and as He willed. It is said that she never wrote a single line that she didn't pray about first. "I ask at every line," she wrote, "that He would give me, not merely thoughts and power, but also every word, even the very rhymes. I believe my King suggests a thought, and whispers me a musical line or two, and then I look up and thank Him delightedly, and go on with it. That is how the hymns and poems come."

Frances was truly a great inspiration to others, both the small as well as the great. For example, when just twenty years old she made a visit to Ireland to talk with a group of school girls. Here are the words of one of those young school girls: "Five o'clock p.m. was the hour appointed for the girls to arrive at the Lodge. We were in a great state of delight at the thought of seeing 'the little English lady.' In a few seconds Miss Frances, caroling like a bird, flashed into the room. Flashed! Yes, I say the word advisedly, flashed in like a burst of sunshine, like a hillside breeze, and stood before us, her fair sunny curls falling around her shoulders, her bright eyes dancing, and her fresh sweet voice ringing through the room. I shall never forget that afternoon ... never! I sat perfectly spellbound as she sang chant and hymn with marvelous sweetness, and then as she played two or three pieces by Handel which thrilled me through and through. She finished with singing her father's tune to 'The Church of our Fathers.' She shook hands with each, and said with a merry laugh: 'The next time I come to Ireland, we must get up a little singing class and you must all sing with me.' As we walked home, one and another said: 'O, isn't she lovely? and doesn't she sing like a born angel?' I love her, I do; and I'd follow her every step of the way back to England if I could." Frances was also a source of tremendous encouragement to the great hymn writer Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) -- see my tribute to her in Reflections #188. The following is a poem she wrote for Fanny, and which she sent to her in one of the many letters they exchanged:

Dear blind sister over the sea --
An English heart goes forth to thee.
We are linked by a cable of faith and song,
Flashing bright sympathy swift along
One in the East and one in the West,
Singing for Him whom our souls love best.


Singing for Jesus! Telling His love
All the way to our home above,
Where the severing sea, with its restless tide
Never shall hinder and never divide.
Sister, what shall our meeting soon be
When our hearts shall sing and our eyes shall see?

Frances was visiting Germany in 1858 when she came upon a famous painting by Sternberg of the crucifixion of Christ. This painting touched her heart, as did the words that appeared under it: "This have I done for thee; What hast thou done for Me?" These words beneath the painting of the Lord inspired her to quickly write out the words to a hymn on a scrap of paper. Upon completion, however, she didn't feel they were truly inspired, and so she threw the paper into the fireplace. A gust of air, however, blew it back out, and she took this as a sign that God wanted it preserved. Therefore, she placed this badly crumpled, singed piece of paper among her possessions and took it back to England. Fifteen years later, in 1873 (just three years before his tragic death), this poem was set to music by Philip P. Bliss (see: Reflections #283). This has come to be one of the most beloved hymns in the church today -- "I Gave My Life For Thee."

Although very strong spiritually, Frances Havergal was not a physically strong individual. She was plagued with poor health most of her life, and was often in great pain ... although she rarely let this be seen by any but her closest companions. She resolved not to let her physical condition deter her from living life to the fullest in service to her God and the people around her. Indeed, Frances regarded these times of suffering, which many might look upon as "disappointments," to be "God's appointments." She felt they truly prepared her to be a better servant of the Lord, and to be more in tune with the hurts and sufferings of others to whom she could then minister with greater empathy.

During the last eight months of her brief, yet very full, life, she was staying in the home of her devoted sister, Maria, at Caswell Bay near Swansea, Wales. During her stay there she caught a terrible cold, which eventually caused a severe inflammation of her lungs. When she was informed that this was a life-threatening illness, she became excited and exclaimed, "If I am really going, it is too good to be true!" She also stated, "Splendid! To be so near the gates of heaven!" She longed with all of her heart and soul to be at home with the Lord. Though her death was reported by the family to have been a "searingly painful" one, nevertheless they reported that she passed from this life with great confidence in her Lord and anticipation for a glorious future with Him. When pain intensified, she was heard to whisper, "It's home the faster!" The Vicar of Swansea came to her bedside, and the family assembled around her. Her sister wrote later, "She looked up steadfastly, as if she saw the Lord; and surely nothing less heavenly could have reflected such a glorious radiance upon her face. For ten minutes we watched that almost visible meeting with her King, and her countenance was so glad, as if she were already talking to Him." A sharp spasm overtook her, after which she sank back into the bed, folded her hands on her breast, and said, "There, now it's all over. Blessed rest!!" As she took her last breath, her brother commended her into the hands of her loving Father! It was June 3, 1879. Frances Ridley Havergal was just 42 years old, but oh what a magnificent life of devotion she lived before her God and His people.

The body of Frances Havergal was laid to rest in a quiet English churchyard, at Astley, Worcestershire. Upon her tombstone, at her own request, is the passage of Scripture that, it is reported, she loved the best: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" [1 John 1:7]. The legacy of this saintly woman lives on long after her passing. Havergal College in Toronto, Canada is named after her. Her books and poems are still available to the public, and her hymns are sung by millions of disciples of Christ Jesus. Though dead, yet she still speaks [Heb. 11:4]. Her family and friends, following her death, took up a large collection, and, as a memorial to her, sent this sum abroad to be used by the native women in India to share the gospel with others. No doubt, one of the joys of that great resurrection day will be the opportunity to meet and worship with such saints of old as Frances Ridley Havergal. May our God raise up more like her to serve as beacons of Light in the world today!!

From a Reader in Kentucky:

Brother Al, I have just read your newest Reflections article -- "Salted With Fire." The thought occurred to me: there is no wonder that there is so much division and exclusivity among us since so many among us utterly reject the idea of the Holy Spirit having any part or influence in our lives apart from the written word -- and this is especially true of those members who are the most legalistic. Legalism makes our holiness, the mission and success of the church, and the very accomplishment of God's purpose on this earth depend upon perfect human understanding and perfect performance of all of the commands of the Bible, which in turn leads to pride in our own accomplishments and separation from anyone who happens to differ from us in the least little way. Thanks, Al, for helping us all to see how much we need the presence and influence of the Spirit in our lives.

From a Reader in North Carolina:

Bro. Al, "Salted With Fire" might be one of the best articles I've read from you! It was a fantastic study that certainly challenges my faith. I'm going to have to read it again ... and then again, so as to soak it all in. Peace, brother!

From a Reader in Arizona:

Bro. Al, I just finished reading your great lesson "Salted With Fire." Keep up the good work. You help the ones of us who have trouble now and then understanding some of the Scriptures. I am going to study this further, but I do believe I am going to agree with you. God bless you, dear Al.

From a Minister in Tennessee:

Brother Al, I have really enjoyed your Reflections, as well as many of your other writings, through the years. I believe you are probably the most insightful writer in our fellowship. I am also enjoying your debate on patternism. I've written a workbook on the Holy Spirit, and quoted quite a bit from you in one of the chapters -- hope you don't mind. I envy your ability to turn out so much material, and am thankful for people in the church with your ability. Thanks again for your ministry.

From a Minister in Oklahoma:

Bro. Al, While we have not met (that I can recall), I am an admirer from a distance. Thank you for taking on this effort of engaging the legalistic patternists in public debate. Patternism has made our people a very mean-spirited (and in danger of being lost) sort. I am grateful for you as I read through this debate!

From a Minister in Alabama:

Bro. Al, Glad you are engaging in this debate. My prayer, in all such discussions/debates, is not for one or another to "win," but that the Truth of God's Word will be exalted in the hearts of all, and that the proponents will conduct themselves with integrity and love -- while presenting their views with an open heart. I pray that many brethren will be able to remove past prejudices and traditions so as to examine these matters openly. God is the one who will always win the victory for us when we seek Him.

From a Minister in England:

Hi Brother Al, It is best for you to get back to the Old Paths, and please remember: Them that ain't legal get to burn! So you'd best be legal in your obeying Christ. Have a great summer and reflect on this matter. You may be the one in deep error!

From an Elder in Missouri:

Brother Al, I really appreciate you putting the contents of this debate on your web site. I requested membership on the Contending for the Faith group, so that I could read the debate there, but was refused membership with no explanation. I am a member of other Christian groups on the Internet, so I don't understand this at all.

• Sadly, this little Internet group, which is now owned and operated by David Brown, who is the editor/publisher of the ultra-legalistic magazine "Contending for the Faith" (formerly run by Ira Y. Rice), is highly paranoid. They will put people through the "third degree" before allowing them into their presence, and will then quickly purge them from their midst if they don't parrot the party shibboleths. It is a very exclusive bunch, so don't feel badly about being excluded. I doubt Jesus would be let in either!! David Brown agreed to publish this debate on his Internet list, but the reality is that virtually nobody will ever read it there, except for a handful of their most hardened supporters. Thus, I have placed it on my web site where anyone in the world may have access to it. I don't mind people reading what I have written. However, they seem to be fearful of anyone knowing what they teach (and as people learn what they teach, it becomes apparent why). --- Al Maxey

From a Minister in Tennessee:

Brother Al, Thank you for your scholarship. Thank you for your logic. Thank you for upholding grace. Thank you for your clarity of thought. Thank you for your attitude. Thank you for showing us the way.

From a Minister in Arkansas:

Brother Al, I hope you will always continue to fight the good fight of faith, and I pray that this man you are debating will come to repentance! All of us here have you in our prayers, brother.

From a Minister in California:

Brother Al, I just recently preached a portion of your Reflections article on "Figures of Speech and Thought." I titled the sermon, "But, That's What It Says!" With regard to your debate, you and Broking are clearly on different planets (even different galaxies) theologically, and I am curious as to how you are going to respond to some of his ranting. Frankly, I could never, ever debate someone who engaged in such illogical, nonsensical, accusatory ranting. Thus far, your two rebuttals have been masterful, especially considering that Broking is trying to get you to "chase rabbits." Please, Al, stay above the fray and do not jump down into the sewer of name-calling (as Darrell Broking is doing). Usually, the one who resorts to such ad hominem argumentation is the one who does not have any (more) substance to their argument, and so they attack the character of their opponent. Although I am advising you to refrain from such, nevertheless if I was in your shoes I would have already called him a lot of names I might have to repent of!! Brother, I greatly admire your willingness to engage these illogical, hermeneutically ignorant, people. We are praying for you here, brother. Your success in this debate is very much needed in the church today, and the positive effects of your teaching in this debate will hopefully be very far-reaching. God bless you!!

From a Minister in California:

Bro. Al, Truly, the spiritual eyes of Broking and those like him are blinded, and they are way out of step with the heart and soul of Christ and of those in a personal relationship with Christ. I pray that your involvement in this debate will open some blinded eyes. More power to you!!

From a Reader in Missouri:

Bro. Al, You did a great job on your second rebuttal. I think it was very precise, and it could not have been made any clearer. I truly hope that the truth of what you've said will dawn on Darrell Broking (as well as on others like him). Love ya, brother!!

From a Reader in Texas:

Good Morning Brother Al, I have just finished reading your second rebuttal to Darrell, and I want to encourage you in your writing. When I read Broking's second affirmative I just wanted to sit back and say, "What is the use?!" I know at times you must become extremely frustrated with all the nonsense that is written, but, Al, you are doing a great work by remaining in the church of your heritage and working for the changes that need to take place in our family. While you only need God to make a majority, I truly believe that the majority of the people out there can easily see how ridiculous Broking's position actually is when they read it. Al, you are loved by more people than you can probably imagine, and I know that your name is brought up in prayer by those (like promised unto Abraham) outnumbering the stars. Bless you, brother, as this debate continues, because I truly believe that by your efforts many eyes will be opened.

From an Elder in Texas:

Brother Al, Great second reply to Darrell Broking!!! His type of rhetoric has kept so many of us in chains for years. Thank you so much for providing thoughtful Bible study to some difficult questions that have been plaguing the church for years. When I was bound by the patternistic mindset, I knew that there were so many flaws in my thinking, but I simply could not articulate them the way you have so eloquently done. I praise God for men like you who can meet many of our legalistic brethren head-on with the Scriptures! Al, I am going to keep on reading your Reflections and this debate. Please don't ever stop writing!!!

From an Elder in California:

Dear Brother Al, I have been reading the information contained within your debate with Darrell Broking. We have been dealing with just such issues as advocated by Bro. Broking at our own gathering of the Body of Christ in ---------, CA. The doctrine that those of this persuasion use is one we have come to refer to as the "Christ plus" doctrine. In other words: Christ plus _____ = Salvation. It seems that none of them can agree on just what the "plus" is; each one having their own list of what should go in the blank. Bro. Al, I enjoy your Reflections. As with any man, I do not agree with everything that you write, but you always give me reason to study and to grow. I believe that's one of the things that we are all called to do. I will enjoy reading the rest of your debate as it comes. May God bless your efforts to show that true unity comes from loving God and each other, and not from a list of laws that we are no longer under.

From a Minister in Texas:

Brother Al, When participants in a debate exchange differing views in a kindly, sincerely earnest and studied manner, much good can be accomplished. However, when either of them approaches the matter with shallow, mean-spirited assaults on the other's person or comments, much harm may be done. And if both attack each other in that manner, then much harm is certainly done. I commend you for not lowering yourself to that behavior in your rebuttals to Darrell Broking.

From a Minister in Texas:

Dear Brother Al, Thank you for your work preaching the gospel of Jesus. It is my belief that you do a good job of exegesis and application of the text. As far as debates go, I like to read opposing views on some matter, but I do not like the personal attacks that usually happen in debates. As far as I can tell, debaters usually begin attacks on the other person when their arguments are weak, and then it seems to become personal and ugly. I got this feeling when reading Darrell's second installment in your present debate, and I lost focus on the issues and became over-focused on the attacks. On the other hand, I believe that you argued the text and did not attack anyone, so good for you. I can't stress enough that I really enjoy reading or hearing opposing points of view; it's good for one's soul. And I really like to hear and read good exegesis of the text. So, thanks for your work and your love for the Lord.

From a Minister in California:

Dear Brother Maxey, For over twenty years I have been studying the questions that you deal with so well in your writings. Prior to this, I never had access to such wonderful articles as I now find on your web site. However, as a young preacher, who was raised up in the One Cup/No Sunday School Church of Christ, I have come to many of the very same understandings that I now read in your Reflections. I am writing today to simply say Thank You for confirming that what I preach and teach today is not damaging the Body of Christ. God bless you!

From a Minister in Oklahoma:

Dear Bro. Al, You are making a difference in my overall outlook through your Reflections and your debate. Thanks a bunch! I am enjoying the freedom to think again!!

From a Minister in Arizona:

Dear Bro. Al, I reread some of Bro. Broking's last affirmative in your debate and noticed that rather than defending his position, he instead did a lot of attacking you personally. This is something that I have seen in most debates, and it seems to be counterproductive. Just my thoughts. Bro. Al, I love your weekly Reflections, and love you for your courage and great writing ability. Please keep on keeping on!!

From a New Reader in Arkansas:

Bro. Al, I'm a student at Harding University, and would like to subscribe to your weekly Reflections. A dear friend of mine, who is a missionary in the Dominican Republic, recommended that I listen to your teachings as much as possible.

From an Elder in North Carolina:

Bro. Al, In your second rebuttal in your debate with Darrell Broking you referenced Matthew 23 as an answer to Daniel Coe. Verses 33-34 read, "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes." Sometimes, out of love for them, we feel that these misguided brethren in the legalistic camp are not in danger of losing their souls, but rather are just "mistaken." This verse, however, hints at them actually being in a more dire position than that, and that God therefore sends people like you to help them find their way. I sincerely feel that our God has commissioned Al Maxey as one of these "wise men" to help them escape their "sentence to hell." If this debate is truly going to be advertised in "Contending for the Faith," there will be many readers in the legalist camp that will find their way out of their present quagmire thanks to your wisdom. We've quietly been dodging their spears far too long, and it's now time that we confront them (out of love for them) with something that they have not had until now -- the Truth. Bro. Al, God has prepared you for what you are doing, and I don't believe there is anyone out there that can do it as effectively as you can. I love you, brother, and we continue to pray for you!

From a Reader in Texas:

Dear Bro. Al, I just finished reading your second rebuttal in the patternism debate. I must say, you did an excellent job of pointing out the fallacy of those who use inferences and assumptions to create manmade "laws" for God's people. You would think that any legalist with even the slightest ability to reason and understand, after reading your second rebuttal, would just simply put down their pen (or, more likely, step back from their keyboards) and shout "I get it now!!" Frankly, it is hard for me to understand how the "Darrell Brokings" of this world would not realize the error in their thinking after reading your argument about these "assumptions of fallible men" being elevated to "divine command" status. You asked Darrell, "So, Darrell ... what assurances do we have that their inferences are not also fallible?! And we are to formulate a standard from this upon which all must concur in order to enjoy both fellowship and salvation?! And a part of this process of formulating this standard is to adopt the speculations of 'fallible men'? No wonder the legalistic patternists are so fragmented!! Their 'standard' is derived in part, by Darrell's own admission, from assumptions drawn from what God never said, and by men who are acknowledged to be prone to error by nature. Good grief. This would actually be laughable, if not so pathetic and destructive."

Excellent, Al. I can't wait to read his answer to that! What could he possibly say to this except, "I give, you win!!"? But, we both know that he won't ever say that. I've come to the conclusion that the reason that otherwise intelligent human beings refuse to accept the simple nature of God's plan of salvation, is nothing more than their pride. They cannot bear to admit that they have been wrong in their beliefs and teachings for all these many years. It would just be too embarrassing for them. Such a pity. Hopefully, the many readers of this debate that are still being deluded by those teachings will be the ones who finally shout "I get it now!!" Carry on, Al. I believe your efforts will bear much fruit.

From a Reader in North Carolina:

Bro. Al, We all have been needing an "Al Maxey" for such a long time!! Someone who is willing to wade through all of the twisted "reasonings" and inconsistencies of those who feel that they are the only ones that are right (saved). You have given me so much hope, since I would have personally been "down and out" had you not spoken up and met these "Pharisees" head-on. Thank you!

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