Ravening Wolves and a Roaring Lion
Don Tarbet from Denison, Texas, and Anne Bell from Lamesa, Texas, co-wrote the above-titled book, which was just published this year (2013). Don has preached in various states and engages in mission work in Scotland, South Africa, and Ghana, West Africa. He has written 35 religious tracts, a book on marriage, and a commentary on Revelation. He has had personal experience with ravening wolves, having debated two on the subject of Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage—John Edwards and Dan Billingsly. Sister Bell has written children’s books and Bible-related materials. This book (136 pages) is primarily aimed at young people but would profit any Christian.
Section One begins with an affirmation God is “the source of wisdom.” Most of the chapters are essays four pages long; a few are longer. The design of the work is to build one’s faith. Some of the chapters include, “The Order of Creation,” “The Matter of Jonah,” “The Magnificent Ark,” “Strange Fire from Heaven,” and “Visions of the Unseen,” which includes an interesting account of a man who, after major heart surgery, told of an event that he insisted was real. “He said that he had died, and gone to the gates of heaven and would not be admitted, because he had not prepared himself adequately” (44). What follows is truly ironic. Also included in this section is “A Letter from Torment,” which is truly thought-provoking.
Section Two, comprising the remainder of the book, is titled: “How to Obtain Faith in God and How to Keep It.” The first chapter is the longest (12 pages), and it covers the topic, “The Bible Versus Evolution.” He traces the origin of the idea back to Emedocles in the fifth century B.C.—about the time period the walls of Jerusalem were being rebuilt (63). He shows the absurdity of some of the claims of evolution (65), as well as some of its frauds (66). He cites the Chimba Tribe in Southwest Africa as one that was still living in the Stone Age in 1965 (67)! The chapter closes with five reasons why the days in Genesis 1 had to be literal, 24-hour days. He also offers three reasons why those days could not be long geological ages (70-72).
Some chapters were written by others. One by Jerry Moffitt is included—“Belief in God,” which examines the cosmological, the teleological, and the ontological arguments for the existence of God (79-83). One article from this writer (GWS), “Mixed With Faith,” is included, along with three sermons: “Did Jesus Exist?”, “Is the Bible Historically Accurate?”, and “Inspiration and Friendship,” all of which were presented here at South Seminole last January. These are followed by brother Tarbet’s account of noted atheist, Antony G. N. Flew (whom brother Warren debated in 1976 in Denton, Texas), becoming a theist (101-103).
Next are three articles written by Dub McClish, which he titled, “A Virtuous Atheist,” “If Darwin Was Right,” and “Ben Franklin Spanks Tom Paine.” Brother Tarbet comes back with an article on “Design,” which is followed by an essay from Toby Soechting—“God’s Design in the Home” (113-118). Brad Harrub wrote briefly of an encounter with an atheist in which he demonstrates the fallacy of atheism. “Evidences for God’s Existence” was written by Ken Lawrence (DVM), and it reveals what astronomers in fairly recent centuries thought about the number of stars; it also contains a great quote from Abraham Lincoln (124).
Geoff Litke writes about “The Absent-Minded Professor,” and then brother Tarbet and sister Bell close the book. It is available for $10 and is well worth reading. It may be ordered from donwtarbet@cableone.net (telephone 903-436-1932). Obviously it is not exhaustive, but the information is sufficient to provoke thought and to build faith.