Current Events Articles: All posts by Scott Lanser MA

Henry Smith presents the evidence on Jericho and Ai.

Scott Lanser and Henry Smith have some fun at the ABR booth.

Scott Lanser speaks to a full house.

Scott debunks the critics with evidence from archaeology.

Volunteer Suzanne Lattimer shows some children pottery from Khirbet el Maqatir.

Refuting the Critics Handouts (in MS Word)

Great Discoveries OT 2 handout.doc (46.50 kb)

Five Great Discoveries OT handout Revised 8.7.10.doc (27.00 kb)

Jericho_handout.doc (407.50 kb)

Great Discoveries NT handout.doc (34.50 kb)

Great Discoveries OT 1 handout Revised 10.11.10.doc (45.50 kb)

“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.”  Hosea 4:6

Dear friend of ABR,

God’s plan to rescue mankind from sin was perfectly fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!  Indeed, the Apostle Paul tells us in his epistle to the Galatians that God sent Jesus into the world “in the fullness of time.” (Gal.4:4)  God had planned for this and Jesus perfectly fulfilled God’s plan.  Jesus was actually born in true space and time in real history.  God acted on purpose with a plan that was according to the “counsel of His own will.”  In advance of the actual events the prophetic revelation (vision) for his purposes was communicated to the prophets and those He had chosen to record His words, and we find God’s vision laid out for us in the Old Testament scriptures. Without that vision and the knowledge that the revelation contained the people were utterly lost, spiritually blind and incapable of knowing or doing the will of God.  This explains Jesus’ own incredulity when “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”  (John 1:11)  They were unprepared for the events that were unfolding at His birth and throughout His life because they had rejected the revelation of God.  When God’s chosen ones refuse to believe what He has supernaturally revealed in the prophetic word then darkness surrounds His people.  And this tragic reality is going on again today within the church of Jesus Christ.

The symptoms of this tragedy are readily apparent:

• Open and flagrant belief and statements among professing Christians claiming that the Bible contains errors and mistakes.
• Using preaching, biblical research, and the Bible as a means of personal gain and for personal advancement (seeking one’s own glory, not God’s glory.)
• The intentional misuse and misinterpretation of Scripture to teach ideas foreign to biblical revelation.
• Using the Bible for proof-texts for business principles, personal schemes and programs instead of teaching the Bible in its historical context.
• Forcing the Bible to fit within the framework of post-modern philosophy, instead of making post-modern ideology submit to the revelation of Scripture. 
• The continuing collapse of a sound doctrine of Scripture at Christian institutions of higher education from the undergraduate to the post-graduate level.
• The willingness to deny the plain statements of Scripture in order to accommodate unproven “scientific” dogma that supports humanist philosophy that openly contradicts the accounts of Creation and the other historical narratives of the Old Testament.
• Christians who are seeking spiritual experiences and signs BEYOND the boundaries of and in place of biblical revelation.

These symptoms are profoundly serious.  And as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, countless numbers of “believers” will gather to worship a Jesus that they aren’t even sure truly existed.  Pastors will preach sermons devoid of power because doubts were sown into their mind and hearts by cynical professors who have openly undermined the doctrine of the inspiration of Scripture.  When God’s people are under such a cloud of doubt and darkness, there are destructive consequences for the body of Christ.  “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…”

In response to these issues ABR is responding with leadership and a number of important initiatives that need your support. 

• We support the local church!  We will answer questions and provide resources that will help the seeker, the new believer, or the mature in the faith so that their walk with Christ will grow.  Our seminars, website, and individual responses help many in the body of Christ to stand strong upon the word of God.
• We support Pastors and teachers.  We stand ready to provide apologetic resources for those leaders in ministry who are already stressed with the demands of their calling.  Pastors, let us be a resource for you in dealing with complicated questions and assertions that undermine the authority of the Bible. 
• We perform original fieldwork and research.  Our professional research staff are experts in the field of biblical archaeology and questions related to the history of the Bible. 
• We confront the outrageous claims of those intentionally trying to attack the Bible and those scholars who are simply misguided in their interpretations of history, the Bible, and archaeology. 

During this Christmas season we are asking you to help us to continue this important mission.  You can be a part of our work through your regular prayers and generous financial support.  We hope you will consider giving a very special gift at this time of year so that our programs and ministries can go on without interruption.  Thank you for standing with us!  And may you and yours have a most blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our loving Savior.

For Jesus’ Sake,

Scott Lanser

Scott Lanser, Director

Associates for Biblical Research

Support ABR's Mission with a Year-End Gift Today!

Dear Friend of ABR,

A few weeks ago, I alerted the ABR family about a serious drop-off in support that was threatening to undermine the strategic activities of ABR.  Many thanks to those of you who responded to this need and who have supported ABR throughout the year.  Since ABR does not receive funds from any government source or from foundations to undergird its ongoing work, we depend on the faithful support of friends like you.  Although my previous communication was alarming, rest assured that we have taken steps to help ABR reposition itself in light of the economic downturn we are facing.

Some of you who are new to ABR contacted me about how you can help in an ongoing way; others asked for more information about our ministry in order to more fully appreciate the scope and impact of ABR’s work.  It was clear that many of our friends have not understood the extraordinary devotion and sacrifices of our staff in fulfilling the calling God has given us.  Did you know that ABR’s scholars are fully supported as missionaries in their role with ABR?  In this way, every dollar you contribute can go directly to support the research projects and outreach activities of ABR.  I am extremely proud of our small administrative staff and our many volunteers whose efficiency and output are nothing short of extraordinary.

If you have been following the updates in our publications and on our website, you have undoubtedly heard that we have been involved in a number of important strategic activities.  First, we have received permission from the Israeli Antiquities Authority to re-open our dig at Khirbet el-Maqatir, in our ongoing investigation to locate biblical Ai.  This search was first begun by Dr. David Livingston, founder of ABR, at Khirbet Nisya, and continues at Khirbet el-Maqatir under the faithful leadership of Dr. Bryant Wood.  Your prayers are coveted at this time, as the current conflict in Israel is seriously threatening the viability of returning to the dig in 2009.  We are grateful that the opportunity is before us, but the timing must come from the Lord.

We continue to do extensive work in the area of Noah’s Ark research.  Two of our scholars, Gordon Franz and Rick Lanser, continue to bring fresh insights and research in the effort to find the location of the Ark.  This has included on-site investigation at Mt. Cudi in Turkey and the ongoing analysis of radar satellite imaging of Mount Ararat.  Dr. Wood continues his quest to locate Mt. Sinai, and has done on-site surveying at Gebel Khashm et-Tarif in Egypt.  Our involvement with the Temple Mount Sifting Project brought great blessing to our team of sifters, under the capable and knowledgeable leadership of Gordon Franz.

Thank you for all your help in making these projects possible.  We continue to ask for your prayers and your support as we press on to fulfill God’s mission for ABR in 2009.

For His Glory,

Scott Lanser

Executive Director

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