April 2004 Archives

As we have done each year on her birthday, Jubilee and I spent a day together telling stories, eating at la Madeleine, taking pictures, and simply having a grand time. Jubilee can be a rootin’-tootin’ cowgirl or a girlie girl, depending on the mood. For the last two years, she has decided that the latter was the spirit du jour for her birthday. Appropriately, she donned her vintage Titanic outfit and showed up on the morning of her birthday at my bedroom door to announce that she was ready for her day with Daddy.

Some things are just too beautiful for words. One of them is a little girl that longs to be in the presence of her father.

“Daddy, can we go out for our tea time now?”

Wait a minute. Wasn’t it just yesterday that we celebrated her last birthday and she wore the same dress, and said the very same words to me? The dress fits her differently this year, and the raspy childish voice I knew so well has been replaced by the voice of a young lady. When did that happen?

Is she really six years old? She is so beautiful.

Right about now, I feel that deep, deep sinking feeling of wonder, awe, and helplessness. Yes, real helplessness. I desperately want to hold onto something that is beyond my grasp — something that I am not meant to hold forever.

Oh Lord, just one more decade to hold that tiny hand. Please Father, just a little more time to live with and love the little girl whose dolly is never far from her arms and who longs to be in her father’s arms. Just a few more decades of birthdays, bathed in the unfathomable devotion and unfeigned innocence of the little girl before me.

I know it is the sacred duty of every father to bring his daughter into noble, womanly maturity and wedlock. Each season is precious. I know this. I have preached it. But at this moment, this emotional moment, I simply want her to remain the little girl with the pink Titanic dress, the bowed hat, and the dolly in her arms forever.

Is that so much to ask?

I know the answer of course, but it does not seem to bring resolution to the heart of a father that aches for his precious one. But there is one thought that quickly brings me back to reality:

My time with my children is a gift from God. He owns my time and he owns my children. As much as I love them, He loves them and me more. The very fact that I have the capacity to love my daughter is evidence that I am made in the image of God. Compared to God’s love, my love is nothing.

How the Father must love His own children. Such unfathomable, unsurpassed love.

Yes, it is hard watching our sweethearts grow up. But it is also beautiful. And this pain in my heart, this fatherly ache, drives home the fact that I must number my days and drink deeply from every opportunity to live and to love the little girl in the pink dress while God yet gives me opportunity.

Jubilee Grows Up

Jubilee on the Faith and Freedom Tour (Age 1)

Jubilee on her fifth birthday, en route to la Madeleine

Jubilee picks out a birthday treat — strawberries romanoff

Jubilee learns the violin

Jubilee on her sixth birthday party with Daddy

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 29, 2004 | Permalink

For a quarter of a century, I have been listening to credo-baptists (advocates of baptism only for believers) and paedo-baptists (advocates for the baptism of infants) argue past each other, often resorting to intellectual posturing and name-calling to advance their respective positions. I had the privilege to be fully immersed in the teachings of some of the leading scholars of both positions. Also, I am enormously grateful to my father and other key spiritual leaders in my life who gave me the opportunity, even as a boy, to discuss this issue with numerous key proponents of both positions.

I have always been concerned by the arrogant grandstanding and ad hominem arguments of some of the modern reformed proponents of paedo-baptism. Such men would lead listeners and readers to believe that only theologically challenged, covenantally ignorant people espouse credo-baptism. But, I have been equally concerned by the refusal of believer’s baptists to answer such challenges with exegetically sound, theologically precise, rigorous arguments. To put it another way, not all paedo-baptists (or their arguments) are Romanist, and not all credo-baptists (or their arguments) are “Anabaptist, anti-covenantal dolts” (their type of terminology, not mine).

To quote a friend, “You can’t fight something with nothing.” In my view, and the view of many others, the time has approached to offer our friends in Christ (especially our brothers in the Reformed community) a charitable, covenantal response to the claims of our paedo-baptist friends, as well as to those dispensational brothers who see a radical disconnect between Old Testament and New Testament.

Last month, my local church, in conjunction with several other churches and Vision Forum Ministries, sponsored a special conference to sort through some of these issues. Lecturing for two days on the covenant and baptism, Pastor Bill Einwechter brought the most lucid, charitable, fresh, exegetically solid, and helpful arguments I have yet seen in favor of the baptism of disciples alone.

Donate to Vision Forum Ministries and Get the CDs

Whether you have a firm and fixed position on the issue of baptism and the covenant, or are seeking further clarity from the Scriptures; whether you are a pastor, student, or family seeking to grow in the knowledge of Christ, we believe you will find The Great Debate over Baptism and the Covenant to be an enormous blessing. In this tape series, developed from a two-day conference on baptism and the covenant sponsored in San Antonio, Texas, Bill Einwechter makes an exegetically derived covenantal argument that the proper object of baptism are disciples — those believers who have actually professed faith in Christ. With charity toward both dispensationalists and traditional reformed paedo-baptists, Mr. Einwechter nonetheless makes the rigorous case that both positions are exegetically inadequate.

Donate $100 or more now through the month of May and receive the CD audio album. That is nearly twelve hours of listening on eleven audio CDs. Visit the Vision Forum Ministries Web site for more information. The CDs are in production and will be mailed out around the end of the month of May.

William O. Einwechter, Th.M. is an ordained minister and serves as an elder at Immanuel Free Reformed Church and as the editor of The Christian Statesman. He and his wife Linda reside with their ten children in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

The “Conference on Baptism and the Covenant” was held at the historical Ye Kendall Inn in Boerne, Texas.

We were grateful to have representatives from more than a half dozen local churches attending the conference. These included credo-baptists and paedo-baptists, all of whom were given opportunity throughout the conference to discuss, debate, and raise questions on the subject at hand. There was a blessed spirit of charity, notwithstanding the potentially volatile and emotionally charged nature of this subject.

Little girls congregate during the break at the “Conference on Baptism and the Covenant” for some literary relief.

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 28, 2004 | Permalink

Dear Mr. Phillips, Thanks for the informative and well-written newsletter on this matter of dress. I have a question. Is there information on the matter of tattoos? I am fighting a battle with some teens over this and wish to stand on God’s ground, not just my personal ideas. I know the scripture about not marking our bodies like the heathen do, but there is a lot of wiggle room on just that one verse. Sincerely, C.L.

Dear C.L.: Yes, we are in the midst of research and writing a biblical and scholarly work on the subject of body modification and mutilation, tattoos, and other forms of pagan self-desecration. Stay posted for more information. Blessings, Doug Phillips

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 28, 2004 | Permalink

David Rogers and his three sons. This family was a tremendous blessing to us at the conference with their wonderful servant like spirit and manly demeanor.

Steve Weathers with three of his five sons. Steve was one of the Homeschool pioneers in Georgia.

Over 225 fathers and sons sat through over 20 hours of exhortation on what it means to be a biblical father.

After all the sitting it’s time to relieve some stress. The tug of war competition is always a highlight of the Father & Son Olympics.

My son Justice looks on with glee during the Father & Son Olympics.

David Brown, Joshua and Justice Phillips prepare for adventure.

The adventure begins for these All American Adventure Boys.

Justice rolls up his pant legs to wade through the creek.

The fathers cry out to the Lord to bless and preserve their sons.

Scott Brown and the fathers pray a blessing on their sons.

Tom Keen and his family. Without the Keen family, and specifically the hard work of Melissa (who celebrated her birthday during this event), this retreat would not have been a success.

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 27, 2004 | Permalink

Adventure Girl Extraordinaire conquers “flying chameleon” which has eluded adventure boys for five days:

Quick of hand and keen of eye,
Deft Jubes did land her lizard prize.

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 27, 2004 | Permalink

Dear Mr. Phillips, I recently attended the Father/Daughter Retreat in St. Louis, MO — we (my daughter and I) had a wonderful time. I attend a church that sings psalms exclusively and as you speak much regarding ‘desert island challenges’ — would this not also apply to what should be sung in worship to God? What would you sing if all you had was the Bible? Please let me know your thoughts. Warmly, R.D.

Dear R.D: The tradition of exclusive psalmody has a long, rich, and respectable history. The arguments in favor and against exclusive psalmody are extensive. Many of my greatest heroes held to this view. Although I do believe in regulative worship, I do not hold to exclusive psalmody. To be specific, “if all I had was the Bible,” I would learn from the pattern of Scripture itself that the Christian is allowed to: (1) do more than quote the Bible when preaching and teaching and talking one to another. He may actually formulate independent sentences and preach messages, the goal of which is to explain the message of the Bible; and (2) the same principle is applied to music. Even as we may use non-inspired words to bring a message about the inspired Word, so too may we sing non-inspired words to communicate a message about the inspired Word. The fact that the New Testament church practiced hymns and spiritual songs (in addition to psalms) is known not only by direct command, but by pattern, as in the knossos passage of Philippians 2, which is widely regarded as a popular spiritual song used by the New Testiment Church. In my view, psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are different categories of musical expression. In my local assembly, we have both a psalter and a hymn book which allows us to do all of the above. Blessings, Doug

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 25, 2004 | Permalink

Thank you so much for your ministry and the wealth of information I am learning from you. I wanted to take this opportunity to announce the birth of my son, Paton Valor Southerland. He was born on Wednesday, April 7, 2004. He is our fifth child and third son. His namesake is John G. Paton, the mighty man of God whom I learned about through your ministry. I appreciate the work you are doing and the difference you are making in the lives of sincere Christian believers. In His Service, Mike & Sheri Southerland

Congratulations on the birth of Paton Valor. What a glorious heritage he has in the name of Paton! I republished the biography of John G. Paton, because I found it one of the most inspiring stories of multi-generational faithfulness and missionary fortitude written. May God bless this baby boy and make him a warrior for Jesus

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 23, 2004 | Permalink

They gathered on the banks of the Potomac in Washington, D.C. at 11:30 in the evening, ninety-two years to the hour after the sinking of the world’s second most famous maritime vessel. They gathered, fathers and sons, to remember a night when more than sixty cabin boys — sixteen years of age — perished to preserve the honor and life of women; to remember when some of the wealthiest men on the planet willingly gave up their seats on lifeboats for third-class washerwomen; and to remember when boiler-room workers, telegraph operators, and musicians acted above and beyond the call of duty by staying at their posts and dying in their selfless acts. By giving up their own lives they preserved the peace and safety of many others.

As we have done for eight years, the Christian Boys’ & Men’s Titanic Society reconvened to proclaim the ancient Christian doctrine of male sacrifice and chivalry, to warn against the ever-present threat to family freedom and virtuous womanhood posed by the insidious doctrine of the feminists, and to remind the next generation of young men that they, too, must value the life of women and children. Standing beside the only memorial in our nation’s capital dedicated to the ancient biblical doctrine of male sacrifice, and erected by the women of America in gratitude to men giving up their lives for women and children, a dozen home school boys placed flowers at the foot of the statue in honor of the nine men who died for every one woman aboard the Titanic.

At the close of our own ceremony, we were delighted and suprised when eighteen grey-haired men in tuxedos arrived at the monument for their own private ceremony in honor of the men who died for women and children. We discovered that this private men’s Titanic society, made up of corporate business and media magnates, has been meeting on the anniversary of the sinking for the last twenty-six years.

Vision Forum Ministries friend, historian, and Faith and Freedom tourguide, Mr. Bill Potter, began the evening of remembrance and later, at the Titanic Memorial, told the heroic story of “The Two Archies” on the Titanic, both of whom had served in the confederacy during the War Between the States, and both of whom were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice on April 14, 1912, by the faithful witness of fathers who loved and mentored them.

Earlier in the evening, we met at the Phillips Flagship for a sumptuous dinner and an evening of remeberance through songs and speeches.

The role of the balladeer in a society which highly esteems women and children is to motivate and inspire the men of the generation to remember the glorious praises of God and His wonderful works which He demonstrated to our fathers (Psalm 78). No one does this better than Charlie Zahm. His rich, manly, baritone voice and skills as a musician are unsurpassed in his genre of maritime, Celtic, and American ballads.

Charlie wowed the faithful 150 attending the Christian Boys’ & Mens’ Titanic Society dinner with a rousing rendition of the classic multi-generational father and son war ballad, “The Minstrel Boy.”

Men traveled to attend the dinner with their sons from more than a half-dozen states including Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

I was blessed to be joined by both my father, Howard Phillips, and my brother Samuel.

Candidates for President of the United States from the diverse political parties including Republican, Democrat, and Constitution Party were invited to attend and address the audience on the issue of “Women and Children First and the Presidency.” Only Michael Peroutka of the Constitution Party accepted. He brought an inspiring message in word (and song).

As is the tradition of the Christian Boys’ and Men’s Titanic Society on the annual memorial dinner for the men of R.M.S. Titanic, the boys in attendance were invited to test their Titanic trivia knowledge. The winners received special prizes.

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 18, 2004 | Permalink

As we have done for nearly a decade, the Christian Boys’ and Men’s Titanic Society will gather on the anniversary of the sinking (April 14) of the Royal Mail Ship Titanic to remember those men who gave their lives for women and children. We will gather for a sumptuous meal, robust song, vigorous conversation and to hear words of Christian chivalry and remembrance on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., just yards away from the massive Women’s Titanic Memorial (which was constructed at the request of First lady, Mrs. William Howard Taft, and paid for by the donations of women across America).

This night is for men only—-individual men, fathers and sons, but exclusively for men. Yes, we still believe that it is appropriate for men to gather and remind themselves of what it is to be a man, to be a protector and defender of womankind.

With just a few days remaining before the event, we hope that you will join us in this glorious and inspiring time. Please consider joining us this year in Washington D.C. on April 14.

“Women and Children First”
To read my poem on the nobility of the Titanic fathers, click here. You can also visit our Titanic Society website.

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 12, 2004 | Permalink

The last two weeks of ministry have been some of the richest times of blessing for the staff of the Vision Forum, as we joined the nearly 600 individuals who participated in our Alabama Father and Son retreat (March 25, 26,27) followed by the St. Louis Father and Daughter Retreat (April 2,3).

For some it was a time to heal broken relationships, for others it was an opportunity to broaden their biblical vision of daughterhood and fatherhood. Still, others came to simply rejoice in a special season of fellowship with their loved one. Over the course of the weekend, fathers and daughters played unity games designed to build trust, engaged in contests to to demonstrate being a servant, tested their knowledge of each other, enjoyed a special brunch and later a “high tea” — during which the daughters interviewed their fathers — and listened to several motivational and biblically-driven messages about the relationships and duties of fathers to daughters and vice versa.

Below are some images from the retreat and letters that arrived in our office this week:

The Father/Daughter Retreat was our second event with Vision Forum. It certainly lived up to it’s billing, providing us with exhortation and example of what it means to shepherd a daughter and what it means to grow into a virtuous woman. My daughters were first exposed to examples of virtuous women and Biblical womanhood on the Faith and Freedom Tour last November. The lovely ladies we encountered there made quite the impression on all of us. Hearing and seeing the example again this weekend confirmed in their hearts that this is the direction they want for their lives. They have both given their hearts to me and I intend with all my (and the Lord’s) strength to guard them and nurture them until such a time as I give them to a godly man in marriage.

Thank you, Vision Forum, for directing my family to God’s design. May the Lord continue to bless all you do. For the Glory of His Name! Charley Adams

Dear Friends at Vision Forum, Thank you so much for the lovely, encouraging weekend at the Father/ Daughter retreat!The games were a fun reminder that fathers and daughters can be friends and must work together to accomplish goals. The speakers were excellent and communicated God’s vision for fathers and daughters with passion and sincerity. What an encouragement it was to hear from brothers and sisters in Christ who share the same desires as your own! The Lord be praised! Thanks to all of you for taking a stand and proclaiming what the Word of God says about fatherhood and daughterhood both through your words and actions. My dad, sister and I found the weekend to be affirming and edifying.

From the bottom of my heart I want to give you thanks for being a willing instrument that the Lord has used to impact my family. My three oldest girls (17, 15, 7) and I attended the Father / Daughter retreat last weekend and one week later it is still the dominant topic of conversation. Some heart changes have occurred that are a delight to behold. My God continue to bless your ministry. James Spangler

The Father and Daughter Retreat was not only a time to serve (and shave) Daddy, but to dress up pretty as a picture.

Some dads even learned to serenade their daughters.

Banana Splits with Dad.

Everyone enjoyed a delicious brunch in a very elegant setting.

Thoughts Regarding the Father-Daughter Relationship

The following remarkable letter was written by Miss Katherine Bradrick in preparation for the Vision Forum Ministries 2004 Father and Daughter retreat. Katherine provides both practical examples of the importance of the father-daughter relationship and demonstrates the wonderful relationship she has with her beloved papa. Click here to read the article.

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 8, 2004 | Permalink

First Commandment
You shall have no other philosophical God than the God of the Bible driving the message and methodology of your film. This means that the message and the means of communicating the message need to be distinctively Christian. This does not mean that Bible verses must be thumped in every frame of the film (or any frame), but neither does it mean that the Christianity of your film is so extremely subtle that it is virtually unrecognizable. Rise above the current humanistic philosophies and trends which dominate visual media and make epistemologically self-conscious films!

Second Commandment
In our desire to avoid many of the humanistic misrepresentations of the image of our incarnate Lord (i.e., the physically desirable Jesus, the Renaissance Jesus, the superman Jesus) — images which often communicate error and which have, on occasion, been stumbling blocks in worship for untold multitudes (especially young children who picture such images in their mind when praying to the Lord) — we respectfully request that, for the purpose of this film festival, pictorial representations of our Lord be excluded from submissions.

Third Commandment
The name of the Lord and any discussions about him are to be presented with the utmost of honor, and never with vanity. Taking the name of the Lord in vain, including in the form of “minced oaths,” is inappropriate. Furthermore, we discourage the careless or inappropriate use of super-trendy or crass language. One can be timely without sinking to the lowest common denominator of communication. Music, too, is a form of communication. Avoid incorporating music which is potentially offensive to a conservative, family-oriented audience.

Fourth Commandment
The moral law of God transcends all nations and civilizations because it reflects the eternal, unchanging character of God and is rooted in His creation order. The doctrine of the Sabbath itself is found in Genesis and is based on the fact that God created the world in six literal, 24-hour days and rested on the seventh. Insofar as it may be relevant, submissions are to reflect an appreciation and support for both God’s revealed law and His creation revelation. Favorable implicit or explicit portrayals of evolutionary philosophy are contrary to the goals of this film festival.

Fifth Commandment
We are looking for films which actively extol the virtues of honor and multi-generational faithfulness. Disrespectful language or attitudes to parents is never to be presented in a positive light. Films which seek to be “relevant” by glorifying the spirit of individualism which dominates the modern youth culture are discouraged. Honor, covenant-keeping, multi-generational faithfulness, gratitude, and appreciation for parents are encouraged as themes and motifs to be presented within the film submissions.

Sixth Commandment
Do not glorify unbiblical and wicked violence. Of course, not all violence is bad or inappropriate. Some is actually Christ-honoring. In the context of the SAICFF, however, we exhort you to submit films that avoid gratuitous behavior and demonstrate restraint and respect for the diverse age groups represented by the people attending the film festival. More mature films will not necessarily be excluded, but may be subject to heightened scrutiny.

Seventh Commandment
Jesus said if you think adulterous thoughts, you are guilty of committing adultery. Intimacy is intended for the marriage bed, not the silver screen. Physical, romantic intimacy is meant for husbands and wives, not actors. Even a man or woman’s lips belong to their true spouse or future spouse, not to another actor or actress. Do not facilitate inappropriate or immoral behavior by having individuals (i.e., actors) not married to each other performing acts which are rightly reserved only to a married man and woman. (See Vision Forum articles Never Been Kissed: A Home-School Love Story, and Never Been Kissed: A Home-School Love Story, Part II.)

Eighth Commandment
Don’t steal other people’s work. We expect all submissions, including the soundtracks, to be consistent with the laws of intellectual property.

Ninth Commandment
Truth is essential to Christian films. Do not use the medium of film to slander other individuals. Film is an especially powerful medium for communication and should be handled with integrity.

Tenth Commandment
Do not create eye trap temptations or visual stumbling blocks for film viewers that lead to coveting something which is sacred and does not belong to them. Specifically, we want to strongly discourage the portrayal of all forms of immodest or inappropriate dress. Moreover, in a day and age of rampant immorality in which sensuality is paraded before the American people in every imaginable medium of communication, the Christian filmmaker should seek to honor Christ by maintaining the highest standards for the Lord.

To read more go to independentchristianfilms.com.

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 7, 2004 | Permalink

Raising the Allosaur will air tonight on the Faith Television network at 8:00 p.m. EST and again at 11:00 p.m. EST — please watch this film with your family and see the story that documents the discovery made in May 2002 of the world’s fourth and largest Allosaurus skull.

Click here for more information on the film.

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 1, 2004 | Permalink