Yes, they call him "Pig." When I have spoken to people about this in the USA, they could not understand and, until a few days ago, I did not understand either. I had been told by people that among the Hill Tribes in the jungles of Thailand, this was not an unusual thing. In fact, they may go so far as to nickname and call a child "Cow Dung," or "Horse Dung," or some other such name.

I know that there are those who are shuddering as they read this. You just cannot understand being so callused that you would pin such a name on one of your children. But, there is a very logical explanation if you were a worshipper of evil spirits or demon spirits.

The Hill Tribe people, while believing that the demon spirits are all-powerful, that there is nothing on earth more powerful than a demon spirit, they do not think the evil spirits are very smart. In order to fool them into leaving their children alone, the spirit-worshippers give their children names of animals or other things that they think the spirits will leave alone. After all, why would a spirit want to have anything to do with something that was called "Dog Dung?" The dumb spirit, the spirit worshippers hold, will think the child is literally dog dung and will leave it alone.

In her book, Ascent to the Tribes, a book about early mission work among the Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand, Isabel Kuhn wrote,

Closer to them, terrifyingly real but yet unsubstantial is the demon world. These demons "bite" you, if you do not worship and do sacrifice to them. The demons do not have all-knowledge—they can be fooled by man. Hence you find children with animal names or worse, such as "Cow-dung." A name like that is believed to trick the demons into not recognizing that the owner is really a human child. So they strive to outwit these evil powers.

But to them the demons are all-powerful. They know of no power greater, and release from this terrible bondage is one of the attractions of Christ. Their lives are dominated by this fear. Trees, rocks, everything, anything may be the haunt of a demon.

Another dimly perceived truth is that of blood atonement. An offended demon may be placated only by the sacrifice of a life. "Without shedding of blood is no remission" needs no explanation to the tribes. They know it. That was one bump in their night which was well outlined to their vision. Yet why a blood sacrifice is needed they cannot tell you. That the demons demand it is all they know. Fear, cruelty, and suffering rule their universe. "Now the earth had been waste and wild and darkness was on the face of the roaring deep," translates Rotherham. Do you think it is far fetched to say that this is a true picture of the spiritual night of the tribes?

This is why it is so common among those we see converted there to hear them say, "I am free. I am free." And I have heard it several times. In fact, in one day in January 2005, I heard such expressions three times. In the same village, the very first person who professed Christ, told us that those in the village who were still worshipping spirits could not understand his being so happy. His answer was, "I am a Christian and I do not have to worry about evil spirits anymore."

There are certain trees that are believed to be especially loved by the evil spirits and these trees are never cut down by one who worships the demons. They are passed on the trails with great caution, anxiety, and foreboding.

It may come as a surprise to some but the practice of hanging wreaths in one’s house in the winter originated with spirit worship. In order to appease the spirits in colder climates, people would hang wreaths in their houses for a place for the spirits to stay during the cold season. Evergreen wreaths such as holly were the favorites for the demons. It was believed that the demons would leave them alone if they provided the wreaths.

It is this fear of evil spirits that prompts such women as the woman in the prison at Chiang Rai to call a child "Pig." Before she became a Christian she probably felt that she could fool the spirits and they leave him alone and let him grow up without too many problems.

When I speak of the necessity of salvation by grace, I do not mean that an all-wise, all knowing God could find no other way of saving sinners that would be consistent with His perfect holiness and pure justice. That would be presumptive on my part. To declare that Divine omniscience was helpless and infinite wisdom was stumped, and that God was forced to adopt the means and way of salvation that He did is very close to blasphemy.

On the other hand, however, we are bound to affirm that salvation by grace must be the best way because God always does that which is best. We are bound to say that it is a holy and just way for God "is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works" (Psa. 145:17). We can also declare that it is a certain way because God is faithful to His promises and does all that He purposes (Isa. 46:9-11).

Supreme wisdom and supreme love would select the most glorious way possible to achieve the Triune God’s purpose to save a people for His glory. That choice was salvation by grace "wherein," writes Paul, "He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself" (Eph. 1:8-9).

That which God wills must come to pass. That which God wills cannot be stymied by any of His creatures. He "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11). "He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, what doest thou?" (Dan. 4:35). Since God willed that salvation be by grace though faith it was necessary that it be that way.

The salvation that is by grace is according to God’s eternal purpose of grace.

Every aspect of our salvation from initiation to consummation is by grace and is according to the will and purpose of God.

We are chosen unto salvation (II Thes. 2:13) and "predestinated unto the adoption of children. . . according to the good pleasure of His will" (Eph. 1:4-5). We are "made accepted in the beloved" and "have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. . . according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in himself" (Eph. 1:6-9). "We have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11).

It should also be pointed out that we are regenerated, born again according to the will of God. James makes the declaration: "of His own will begat He us with the word of truth" (James 1:18). John writes that those who received Christ when He came did so because they "were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of God" (Jn. 1:13). Jesus declared: "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will" (Jn. 5:21).

The three verses of Scripture just cited all declare that regeneration, the new birth, is a sovereign act of the Trinity. Christ quickens "whom He will" as does the Father. The new birth does not hinge on man’s will ("nor of the will of man" (Jn. 1:13) but on the will of God.

We should also understand that our salvation and the holy calling thereunto are both according to the eternal purpose and will of God. To Timothy Paul wrote: "Who (God) hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (II Tim. 1:9). Nothing in us, whatever it may be, prompted God to save us. He saved us solely because of "His own purpose and grace."

Our salvation was dependent upon the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. He came, lived, suffered, and died according to the will of God in order to secure our salvation. He was "delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge (foreordination) of God" (Acts 2:23).

When His persecutors crucified Christ they "were gathered together, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done" (Acts 4:27-28). That the death of Christ as a substitute for the elect was according to the will of God is clearly declared by Isaiah. He wrote: "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him" (Isa. 53:10).

I recall a writer for the Adult BTC Quarterly published by the ABA once saying in a lesson on Disappointments that "God’s greatest disappointment came when they crucified his Son. God’s expectations were shattered when they crucified his Son." In the light of abundant scriptural testimony that is about as big a lie as anyone could possibly publish. Look at three or four Scriptures that show how erroneous the position the quarterly writer took. Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Acts 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Acts 4:27-28 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Acts 13:27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

Can any of you read those Scriptures without clearly and unequivocally seeing that God purposed the crucifixion of his Son? Surely that is so clear from these and many other verses that one would have to be willfully ignorant to declare that "God expectations were shattered when they crucified his Son." That in nothing but pure nonsensical error! Any Baptist preacher who writes such material should be immeasurably ashamed of himself.

Does not Peter make it very clear that the suffering of Christ was foreordained by God? 1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

Does not Jesus clearly affirm that his death was foreordained of God? Luke 22:22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

Finally, consider again those words from the pen of the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Three wonderful facts stand out in this verse.

I know not how anything could cause one to say, "God’s greatest disappointment came when they crucified his Son. God’s expectations were shattered when they crucified his Son."

The security of the elect is declared by Jesus to be according to the will of God. "And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. . . and I will raise Him up at the last day" (Jn. 6:39-40).

Previously, Jesus had declared that all those given to Him by the Father would come to Him and none would, under any circumstances, be cast out (Jn. 6:37). In verse 39 He reveals that this security is founded upon the will of God ("This is the Father’s will. . .").

We are also sanctified according to the will of God. "Then said He, Lo, ‘I come to do thy will, 0 God. . . By the which will we are sanctified" (Heb. 10:7-10).

It is clear that salvation by grace is according to the eternal purpose and sovereign will of God. His will necessitated that it be by grace. We must say: "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight" (Matt. 11:26).

Salvation is a work of God (Jonah 2:9) and unsullied holiness and absolute justice characterized all the works of God. "The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works" (Psa. 145:17). Salvation, therefore, must be accomplished in a manner that would in no way soil or stain Divine holiness or compromise Divine justice.

In this fallen, unregenerate condition the natural man is a child of wrath and disobedience. Ephesians 2:1-3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. He is a worker of iniquity and should be the object of God’s hatred. "Thou hatest all workers of iniquity" (Psa. 5:5). He is self-willed and "the froward is abomination to the Lord" (Prov. 3:12). The natural man is proud and arrogant and God says: "Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way and the froward mouth, do I hate" (Prov. 8:13). Again Solomon writes: "They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord" (Prov. 11:20).

God is not a man and His holiness and justice will not allow Him to simply overlook these sinful beings and their sins. Psalm 50:21-22 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. 22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. (Psa. 50:21-22). Holiness is offended and justice cries out for the just punishment that is due. His anger is continuous. He is "angry with the wicked every day" (Psa. 7:11).

A plan of salvation must be devised that will answer the demands of justice and holiness and still save the ungodly. FREE grace is the only answer found in Scripture. "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. . . that he might be just, and the justifier of him which beleiveth in Jesus Christ" (Ron. 3:23-26).

In the great scheme of redemption the sins of everyone that shall ever be saved were imputed to Jesus Christ and He bore everything that was due us (Isa. 53:3-11). Our sins were so terrible that God must mar Christ until He did not even look like a human being. Isaiah 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. At the great event of the crucifixion our sins were fully and completely paid for and holiness and justice were so fully satisfied that the Psalmist could write: "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psa. 55:10).

God’s wisdom is beyond human comprehension. Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! That great wisdom determined that the sure and certain salvation of everyone of the elect seed required that God’s salvation be based on unfrustrated grace, pure grace, unadulterated grace.

In Ephesians we read of the eternal purpose of God in His gracious salvation.

He chose His people before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

He predestinated those whom He chose to the adoption of sons. Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

He made these same ones accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

He redeemed them through His blood. Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

This was all "according to the riches of His grace; wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence" (V-8).

When Paul wrote to the Romans about the salvation that is by grace (Rom. 3:24-11:32) he concluded that marvelous revelation with an exultant declaration concerning the wisdom of God which had devised this unexcelled way of salvation. He jubilantly exclaimed: "0, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again for of him and through Him, and to Him are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:33-36). Divine wisdom truly required that salvation be by grace!

One may ask: "What does God’s jealousy have to do with the fact that salvation is by grace?" The answer is clear. The God of salvation is a jealous God (Ex. 20:5) and will not share His worship and glory with anyone else. "Thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Ex.34:14). He will not allow the glory for the salvation of the elect to be shared with the prophet, priest, or preacher. The sinner whom God saves cannot claim anything for himself. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and THAT NOT OF ‘YOURSELVES’ it is the gift of God: not of works lest ANY MAN should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). God "hath saved us, and called with an holy calling, NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS, but according to His of purpose and grace" (II Tim. 1:9). "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and NOT OF US" (II Cor. 4:7) The salvation of sinners "is NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH, NOR OF HIM THAT RUNNETH, but of God that sheweth mercy" (Rom. 9:16).

Dr. John Gill says of God’s salvation: "He has taken a method of choosing and calling . . . to stain the glory of all flesh, that no man may attribute his salvation to anything of the creature, but wholly to the sovereign grace and good pleasure of God" (Gill’s Commentary, Vol. VI. P. 158). Our God, whose name is Jealous (Ex. 34:14) will share the credit for salvation with no one. We must join with Jonah in declaring: "Salvation is of the Lord" (Johan 2:9).

God is faithful. He is always, at all times and in all circumstances, faithful. Our greatest assurance that our salvation is sure is the fact that our God is faithful. Paul wrote to a carnal congregation in Corinth: "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (I Cor. 1:9). To Timothy, Paul wrote: "If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself" (II Tim. 2:13).

The covenant of redemption is ordered and certain in all its provisions for God has said: "I will not suffer my faithfulness to fail" (Read Psa. 89:27-36). Paul declared that salvation is "by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed" (Rom. 4:16).

An all-wise God would not establish a way of salvation that would not be sure and certain lest He be found to be unfaithful. His eternal faithfulness made salvation by grace absolutely necessary.

In conclusion may I say to every truly saved reader of this message: "Never worry about the certainty of your reaching heaven for salvation by grace is sure and certain."

If you are lost you will be saved for sure and certain when you repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation that is by grace.

I took my last radiation treatment on April 7. Since that time the recovery, from the radiation side effects has been slow, but pretty steady. I have preached four times since the last of April. Until recently, speaking has been greatly impaired by sore throat and dry mouth. Normal sleep began to return about May 16, and the ability to get along without a "spit cup" returned about the same time. My saliva flow is still miserable, but I think it is slowly but constantly improving.

I do want to thank all the wonderful people who have been regularly praying for me, and have let me know it by e-mails, cards, letters, and phone calls. You cannot imagine how encouraging your great demonstrations of love have been to me, and to my wife, during these miserable days. I do not know how long it will be before the doctor can tell me if the treatments seem to be successful or not. I ask you to just keep praying.

Since the above portion of this report was written, I have kept an engagement in Coleman Texas, where I experienced almost no difficulty in speaking. God gave great liberty, and with the help of a little water, my voice was virtually normal. I greatly look forward to getting back to a full schedule of preaching. This experience has helped me remember how important preaching is to my heart and soul.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I tire of hearing what a great religion Mohammedanism, as it was called a couple of hundred years ago, is. I hear how peaceful it is. If the reader will look, until recently, every country where this religion is the dominant religion ruthless dictatorships have abounded and the rights of the people are grossly abused. Even when there are no competing religions, all kinds of human rights are abused. Rape rooms and torture chambers abound. People disappear and are often never heard of again. Remember how many missing people were freed from Sadaam’s prisons when our valiant military conquered that dictator?