My friend Dennis wrote to me with this comment: “If you are having trouble with your teenage son doing things like staying out too late, not doing homework or bickering with his brothers and sisters, don’t despair. At least he’s not building a nuclear reactor in your “potting” shed.” Check out the link:
The radioactive boy scout

Congratulations
To our friends Matt and Jennie Chancey (from Ladies Against Feminism) on the birth today of their daughter Felicity Jane Chancey.

“The elder responded that if we preached that, people would be running for the door.”
Dear Vision Forum: I was so encouraged to hear the subject of your upcoming conference. I could write a book about what we have recently experienced in our conservative, reformed church. It has been so painful to my husband and I and our 5 children as well. We have been members for 13+ yrs... I believe that the intolerance of our decisions to not participate in children’s church and youth group is a symptom of the greater problem which lies in the weak teaching of the Word. If the elders aren’t willing to stand on the Word in regards to some of the most basic doctrines, why are they going to make a stand for these other issues? I asked once why it has never been preached from the pulpit that women should be keepers at home. The elder responded that if we preached that, people would be running for the door. He agreed that this was the ideal, but not necessarily possible for every situation. His wife, the pastor’s wife, and the youth minister’s wife all work outside of the home. I pray that there will be a 2nd Reformation, God will clean out the churches and His people will rise up again to fight for the Truth according to the Bible, not according to what people want to hear! I will be praying for your conference. If the Lord wills it, I may even be able to attend. Praising God for you, DW

Dear Friend:

This year we hope to have close to a thousand people attend our 2004 National Uniting Church and Family conference. A large percentage of those in attendance will be pastors and elders (many from a Reformed perspective like yourself) who share the vision for biblical church life—-(i.e. family-integrated worship and Body life). As a shepherd myself, while I am always saddened to hear about churches which profess sound orthodoxy, but build their orthopraxy on the thinking of evolutionary humanism (i.e. age-segregated, individualistic models), I am thankful to God that many local churches and church leaders are experiencing a revival on these matters and turning their eyes away from the government school/corporate business model of the local church, to “the old paths” found in Scripture.

Make sure to honor your leaders even in disagreement and to seek for a godly solution. If your conscience is deeply grieved, and you believe you have a biblical basis for leaving, graciously and with humility ask for their permission to transfer your membership to a local body more in line with your convictions. For more on this subject visit our website at www.visionforum.org.

Blessings, Doug Phillips

Providence Mather Phillips At Three Months