February 2005 Archives

World War II was the last constitutionally declared war of the 20th century.

World War II was the last (and perhaps only) war of the 20th century in which American Christians who held to “biblical just war theory” were largely in agreement among themselves as to the validity of the war. Though legitimate issues were under consideration prior to the Japanese attack, the debate over whether such a conflict was “biblical” ended on December 7, 1941.

World War II was the last war in which the American defenders were born from parents who were themselves born in the pre-modern world.

World War II was the last completed war in which the United States had specific military objectives for total victory, and won a clear and decisive military and political victory over the enemy. (This was not true of Korea or Viet Nam. The Gulf War failed to topple the enemy government. The Iraqi conflict is still in motion.)

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 24, 2005 | Permalink

Recessional

God of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle line
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The captains and the kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe—
Such boasting as the Gentiles use
Or lesser breeds without the law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard—
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard—
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy mercy on Thy people, Lord!

Rudyard Kipling

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 24, 2005 | Permalink

More than one hundred home schooling friends of Vision Forum Ministries traveled to Fredericksburg, Texas on Saturday for the town’s parade commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima where they joined thousands of other grateful Americans who lined the streets for the special event.

Justice Phillips offers a carnation to one highly decorated Marine and Iwo Jima veteran.

Even with inclement weather, thousands came out to offer one final goodbye to the octogenarian heroes.

Tanks, jeeps, and other armored vehicles carried veterans from the Second World War.

Faith Phillips says “thank you.”

The Valenti family traveled from Louisiana to honor those grandfathers of the World War II generation.

Faith hands a flower to a Navy Corpsman from D-Day +3 from Iwo Jima.

Beloved bride Beall Phillips at the Fredericksburg parade.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 23, 2005 | Permalink

On February 19, 1945 United States Marines hit the black sand beaches of Iwo Jima. This was the deadliest battle of World War II. It was the first time in nearly two thousand years that an invading army had landed on Japanese soil. More US Marines earned the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima than in any other battle in US History. In 36 days of fighting there were 25,851 US casualties. Of these, 6,825 American boys were killed. All but 1,000 of the 22,000 Japanese died in the battle. Iwo became a symbol of the hardship of war at its bloodiest, of the hope of victory for the American cause, and of the character of the United States Marines. The victory had huge strategic significance for the war effort. By the end of the war, more than 2,400 B-29 bombers had made emergency landings on Iwo Jima.

But sixty years ago today, American soldiers under fire climbed their way to the top of Mt. Suribachi and planted a flag of hope which inspired not only the warriors on Iwo, but tens of millions of Americans.

The above image is of the first (and less famous) flag raising. The flag was placed by the heroic boys of Easy Company who had to date suffered 40% casualties. In the picture, Jim Michels holds the gun with (left to right) Hank Hansen, Louis Charlo, Boots Thomas, Harold Schrier and Chuck Lindberg behind. The photo was taken by Lou Lowery at 10 AM.

The above image became the most famous picture in the history of photography. It was not a posed shot. Photographer Joe Rosenthal did not even realize the significance of the picture at the time. But in one 400th of a second, the world would be changed.

This last weekend at the 60th anniversary celebration, I spoke to numerous survivors of Iwo Jima who watched with their own eyes the event captured in the Rosenthal image. They described it as the most inspiring moment of hope they had experienced in a brutal and seemingly endless battle that had even at this point captured so many of their brave comrades. This veteran told me he daily read his Bible, turning to the 23rd Psalm.

Thank you, fathers of Iwo Jima.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 23, 2005 | Permalink

More than fifteen thousand veterans, reenactors, and the general public assembled outside of Fredericksburg, Texas, this Saturday, February 19, for the reenactment of the seige and taking of Mt. Suribachi. The event took place on a private residence of the son of an Iwo Jima survivor sixty years to the day that American Marines took the volcanic beaches of this strategic location. Vision Forum was there with more than one hundred of our team to record, observe, and participate in the great event.

Though half the size of the actual Suribachi, vets told us this mountain had an uncanny similarity.

The battle reenactment included a great deal of gun fire, flame throwing, heavy armored vehicles, and mortar shells.

Troops prepare for engagement.

Vision Forum staff Richard (father) and Ryan (son) Short participate in the reenactment.

The Japanese strategy of underground warfare limited the effectiveness of the American tanks.

Flame throwers were used to destroy enemy in underground positions.

An example of heavy machine gun weaponry.

Evacuating the wounded.

Trench warfare.

Japanese troops mount a banzai charge.

Veterans who watched the original two flag-raisings in 1945 said that it was observable from many parts of the island and out at sea. They said the effect on morale was indescribable.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 21, 2005 | Permalink

The Vision Forum film team from New Zealand arrived last week and a new wave of filming began for our Faith of Our Fathers project.

Cinematographer and home school father of seven Geoff Botkin working on the Faith of Our Fathers.

Beowulf Studios and other film teams are present for the shooting of the taking of “Mt. Suribachi.”

Cinematographer Isaac Botkin.

Here I am with my sons and Geoff as we prepare for an interview.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 21, 2005 | Permalink

Families, veterans and heroes from Iwo Jima and the Pacific theater of WWII will gather this Sunday under these tents to worship the Lord and give thanks for his providential protection and blessings through the sacrifice of those who have gone before us.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 19, 2005 | Permalink

We are deeply honored to be hosting silver star and purple heart recipient Bob Boardman, at this coming Sunday’s “Honor Our Fathers day” of celebration between 10:30 and 4:00 on the 60th anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima.

Despite the residual effect of the damage on his throat from a Japanese sniper’s bullet in 1945, Bob is a truly dynamic Christian speaker who explains the many providences of God that took place in the Pacific theater of World War II, and the impact of the Gospel on United States Marines.

More Biographical Information: Before these South Pacific battles, while in Australia as a young Marine, Bob, under great conviction of wrongdoing as a result of a brawl, began for the first time to read a New Testament received from the Gideons. After reading daily for three months, God transformed his heart. He was a forgiven and redeemed man.

Bob was born in Salem, Oregon on February 1, 1924. He was 17 when the attack on Pearl Harbor took place on December 7, 1941, and at age 18 joined the US Marine Corps. He participated in three major campaigns with the First Marine Division and received two purple hearts and a Silver Star.

The power of God was manifest in sparing Boardman’s physical life in mortal combat in WWII. The grace and love of God was revealed in bringing him to the place where he was willing to go back as a missionary to his former enemy, the Japanese. Bob first went to Japan as a missionary in 1952. He pioneered and led the Navigators work in that land for many years until God raised up Japanese leadership. He also helped pioneer the Navigator ministry in Korea and Mongolia.

Boardman has varied experiences as a logger, athlete, Marine, hospital orderly, missionary, writer, and speaker. He is the author of A Higher Honor, a book of vignettes about the honor and commitment of the Japanese people. His book, Unforgettable Men in Unforgettable Times, is a series of stories about Marines and Navy personnel who fought in those truly unforgettable times of war in the Pacific against a formidable Japanese enemy. Bob serves as chaplain to four US Maine Corps veteran’ groups — one for the state of Washington and two nationwide, including the 14,000 member First Marine Division Association.

Click here for more information on how you can join us in honoring our fathers at this exciting event.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 18, 2005 | Permalink

Click here for more information about the Witherspoon school of Law and Public Policy.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 17, 2005 | Permalink

In my view, demographic studies are informative, but never dispositive in determining the rightness of an education model. Because the Bible is sufficient for all of life, we must recognize that Holy Scripture alone is the epistemological foundation for education methodology. We must reject the ranting of those that claim that the myth of educational neutrality only extends to content and goals. God has given broad blueprints for the means, as well as the ends. Methods are not neutral. If the Bible proclaims a particular vision for training children, we must tenaciously hold to that vision regardless of the findings in trendy studies and currently available statistical evidence. We must remember that “brute” factuality is a myth because all facts are subject to interpretation. All men are religious in that they either worship the creature or worship the creator. Consequently, it is inescapable that the religious commitment of the person reviewing the data will condition and define the interpretation.

With this important caveat in mind, I present to you some important findings about home education in America from Scholastic Achievement and Demographic Characteristics of Home School Students in 1998, by Lawrence M. Rudner, as published in the ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation College of Library and Information Services, University of Maryland, College Park.

Home Education In America

Major findings: Demographics

• Home school parents have more formal education than parents in the general population; 88% continued their education beyond high school compared to 50% for the nation as a whole.
  
• The median income for home school families ($52,000) is significantly higher than that of all families with children ($36,000) in the United States.
  
• Almost all home school students (98%) are in married couple families. Most home school mothers (77%) do not participate in the labor force; almost all home school fathers (98%) do work.
  
• Home school students watch much less television than students nationwide; 65% of home school students watch one hour or less per day compared to 25% nationally.
  
• The median amount of money spent annually on educational materials is about $400 per home school student.
  
• The distribution of home school students by grade in grades 1-6 is consistent with that of all school children. Proportionally fewer home school students are enrolled at the high school level.

  Major findings: Achievement
  

• Almost 25% of home school students are enrolled one or more grades above their age-level peers in public and private schools.
  
• Home school student achievement test scores are exceptionally high. The median scores for every subtest at every grade (typically in the 70th to 80th percentile) are well above those of public and Catholic/Private school students.
  
• On average, home school students in grades 1 to 4 perform one grade level above their age-level public/private school peers on achievement tests.
  
• The achievement test score gap between home school students and public/private school students starts to widen in grade 5.
  
• Students who have been home schooled their entire academic life have higher scholastic achievement test scores than students who have also attended other educational programs.
  
• There are no meaningful differences in achievement by gender, whether the student is enrolled in a full-service curriculum, or whether a parent holds a state issued teaching certificate.
  
• There are significant achievement differences among home school students when classified by amount of money spent on education, family income, parent education, and television viewing.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 17, 2005 | Permalink

The home school movement is on the verge of explosion in the nation of New Zealand. So is the film industry. It is not surprising to see a rising nexus between New Zealand home educators and a rising cultural influence in the area of film. But there, as in America, the goal is neither to replace Hollywood with a Christian Hollywood, nor is it to infiltrate and syncretise with Hollywood. The goal for Christians is to transform culture for the glory of God by creating a distinctively and presuppositionally biblical approach to visual media.

Of course to do this, one must have some sense of the difference between good and evil. One must have a biblical standard capable of communicating a distinction between that which is holy and that which is pagan, and thus unholy. One must reject aesthetic neutrality (including the myth of musical neutrality) and subjectivism. One must believe that the Bible definitively and authoritatively speaks to everything including aesthetics. One must think like a true biblical presuppositionalist.

This can only happen if one refuses to allow bad personal morality to dictate theology.
The home school movement is far from perfect. It is not an end, but the means to an end. What is “perfect,” however, is God’s law to parents which commands them to home educate their children in the law of God and its application to all of life through a walk-along, talk-along, relationship based, character driven method of discipleship and education which is inherently holy (“set apart”) from the world’s methods. Many home educators share a deep abiding passion to use these God ordained methods to achieve God-ordained outcomes of strong character, personal holiness, and a victorious culture transforming perspective.

It is not surprising, therefore, that we are seeing many of the greatest cultural leaders emerge from the ranks of America’s home school movement, especially from those households which place clear emphasis on holiness, character, training in the law of God, and a vision for biblical aesthetics. It is from these ranks that the best and the brightest of the new independent Christian film movement are emerging.

One such example is Isaac Botkin, son of SAICFF judge Geoff Botkin. At the ripe old age of 24, Isaac is a much sought after filmmaker in the nation of New Zealand. In the following article first published in a New Zealand magazine, Isaac discusses why now is the time for Christians to advance the cause of the Lord by making distinctly Christ-honoring films, and why worshipping at the golden calf of Hollywood is not the answer for Christian film producers. The Birth of an Independent Christian Film Industry.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 17, 2005 | Permalink

Dear Mrs. Phillips, I was deeply moved by your intelligent, articulate, and thoughtful response to the population control author of the “stop having children” article. Never have I read in print what I have felt in my heart about this issue. I have not been able to adequately explain our family’s position about allowing God to plan our family size to others, but your response was everything I have always wanted to say to family and friends when they question us about this issue. In fact, I would like to print and frame it! However, when I tried to find it again on the Vision Forum website under “Doug’s Blogs” I was unable to. Please consider reposting it, and keeping it permanently available for others who feel as I do. Thank you!

In Christ, Regina T.

Thank you, Regina. The blog is up.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 17, 2005 | Permalink

A baby boy survived at least three attempts to abort him from the womb and was born alive at 24 weeks old. Now two years old and healthy, he is the first long-term abortion survivor to have been born so prematurely.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1482142,00.html

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 16, 2005 | Permalink

I love stories that allow the reader to peer into the humor and beauty of family life. As a boy, my parents read to me Life with Father, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Momma’s Bank Account. These humorous stories about family life in America were lacking one key element — a Christ-centered focus. In 2004, Vision Forum published Ten P’s in a Pod, the true account of the million-mile journey of evangelism and home education of the Arthur Pent family. Combining humor, Scripture, and family adventure, Ten P’s has it all. My girls and I recently had the opportunity to spend several hours with Dr. David Pent, the eldest of the Pent children. Now in his seventies, Dr. Pent has committed his life to furthering the work of his father in helping others to better understand, memorize, and teach the Holy Scriptures. He is an absolutely delightful man. We hope to see him at future Vision Forum events, sharing firsthand the legacy of his father and the testimony of a family that served the Lord as a team traveling the country together.

Click here for more information about Ten P’s in a Pod.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 14, 2005 | Permalink

America bids farewell to Congressman Phil Crane, who along with Congressman Ron Paul, had perhaps the most biblically defensible voting record in the House of Representatives over the last few decades. In a surprise upset, Congressman Crane lost his reelection bid last November. A long-time friend of my father and mother, Congressman Crane and his wife recently took time to sit down with me during a Florida conference to share a little about their philosophy of life and family. They are blessed with nine children.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 14, 2005 | Permalink

Click here to download Alabama Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker’s explicitly biblical, Christ-proclaiming, swearing-in speech before the rascals who tossed out Chief Justice Roy Moore and a crowd of 2000. Available in MP3 format. (Right click “save as” to save the file to your computer.)

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 14, 2005 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 14, 2005 | Permalink

“AAAAAAUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

“Do you hear that Doug?”

“AAAAAAUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

“Yes, but maybe if we pretend we don’t hear it, it will go away?”

“AAAAAAUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

“Fat chance. What is going on out there? The children must be out of control. Didn’t we tell them to get ready for bed?”

“AAAAAAUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

“Right...I will take care of this.”

“My eyes darting from here to there in search of a spare rod, as I marched down the hall and into the girl’s room, ready to exact discipline on the wild, frenzied golden-hairs I was sure were tearing-up their bedroom midst a crazed altercation.

What do I find?

There sitting in the middle bed are three little girls in their jammies, lined up in perfect formation, backs erect, hair combed, each with a dolly on their laps, and their mouths open. I watched as they screeched in unison:

“AAAAAAUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

Jubilee paused just long enough to explain:

“Daddy, we are teaching our dolls opera.”

And without blinking she continues...

“Now girls, on three. One, two, three...AAAUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

Yet another example of the dangers of home schooling and classical music.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 12, 2005 | Permalink

Dear Mr. Phillips,

It was with tears that I read the e-mail that I received about thanking our fathers! I too had a father who fought in WWII and was on Iwo Jima and saw the raising of the American flag there! My father was one of those who hesitated to talk about his time in “the War”. It is like it was just part of the duty of being a responsible American father, to fight for the freedom of his family! He has been gone over ten years now and I too regret not asking more questions!

I would love to be at the event next week, but living in Michigan makes it difficult for me to get there. My response to your reminder of this event makes me determined that my children and grand children will know their roots and their heritage and come to honor and appreciate how much those men gave even aside from their life and limb.

Thanks so much for your efforts in making such an event come to pass! It is a reminder to me that we have a great and godly heritage and we must continue to stand strong for the rights and freedoms that God has so graciously bestowed upon the United States of America!

Sincerely and heartfelt thanks,
Ruth (and Roger) Tuinstra

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 11, 2005 | Permalink

As Vision Forum prepares with America for the last significant World War II anniversary in which our children will still be able to talk to, learn from, and honor survivors from the great war, we want to encourage you to guide your sons to better understand the meaning of sacrifice by studying manhood and courage under fire on Iwo Jima. In this classic history, Robert Leckie has provided a young men and ladies with a thrilling account of the unforgettable struggle for freedom which occured on Iwo Jima in March of 1945.

Click here to order this product.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 11, 2005 | Permalink

If you had one last opportunity to say goodbye to your father, what would you say? This year, America says goodbye for one last time in our history to an entire generation of fathers — men who gave everything so that their children’s children would be born in an America that was still “under God.”

They were the last generation of American men to be born from parents who were still part of the pre-modern world — the old world order of Christendom. The men and women of that world were far from perfect, but to their great credit, they still respected those transcendent values which have always been the hallmark of Christian society and which, sadly, are all but lost on this present generation. They understood that fathers led the home, that men were to lay down their lives for women and children, and that the family was one man and one woman for life.

This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the final battles and victorious conclusion of the Second World War. Thousands of WWII vets are dying each day. There will be precious few alive for the seventieth anniversary. This is it. You and I have one last opportunity to thank these men in person, to shake their hands, to stand our sons and daughters before them, and to allow them to have a real, emotional, and personal link with the past. We have one last opportunity to honor these fathers face-to-face.

Come to Fredericksburg, Texas!
In five weeks, I will be traveling to the battlefields of the Pacific with a camera team and three generations of men, including grandfathers who once stood on the black sand beaches of Iwo Jima. This journey is part of the Vision Forum Ministries Faith of Our Fathers project. But before we go, we would like to invite you to be a part of a special gathering of Iwo Jima and WWII veterans, scheduled to take place on the weekend on February 19-20.

“Honor Our Fathers” Sunday Worship and Fellowship Lunch

On Sunday, February 20, Vision Forum Ministries will be joining with local churches in the San Antonio area for a special Sabbath worship service and fellowship celebration. We will be gathering at the beautiful Headwaters Ranch, located approximately twenty minutes away from Fredericksburg, Texas, at 10:30 a.m. In the name of Jesus Christ, and for His sake, we will dedicate the day to honoring our fathers and remembering the great providences of God during the Second World War. The worship service is sponsored by several Christ-centered, family-integrated (see our NCFIC Web site) local churches from the San Antonio/Fredericksburg/Austin region. Following the Sabbath worship, we will have a free barbeque lunch and a time of fellowship with the heroes from WWII.

During the event, we will take the time not only to hear testimonies shared from Christian veterans, but to recognize and honor each WWII veteran among us. If your father or grandfather fought during the Second World War, please bring them so we can all show our appreciation for the sacrifice they made sixty years ago for the generation that lives today.

An Old-Fashioned Patriotic “Thank You” Celebration

On Saturday, hundreds of WWII veterans will be gathering in Fredericksburg, Texas for one of the most fantastic celebrations of the year — the sixtieth anniversary celebration of the Battle of Iwo Jima. The Fredericksburg event is a world-class, small town, all-American, old-fashioned, patriotic thank-you parade. It will include numerous fly-bys from vintage WWII aircraft. (In 2001, Fredericksburg set the standard for patriotic parades with an entire day dedicated to veterans celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.) While in town, be sure to visit the Nimitz Museum or to watch the one-hour reenactment of the storming of Mt. Suribachi. For more information on the event, click here.

Free, but Please R.S.V.P

All events are free, and the Sunday worship and fellowship “Honor Our Fathers” cookout is open to all. However, we are requesting that you R.S.V.P. so we can adequately prepare to cater the event. To R.S.V.P., e-mail brian@visionforum.org and indicate your name and the number of people you will be bringing.

Saying “Thank You”

A great error of this generation is radical individualism — children who believe that they can hope to have a future without paying any regard to the past. The lesson of history is that those children who do not know where they came from cannot hope to go anywhere of significance. It is for this reason that Jesus Christ places honor in a central role in the success of individuals and nations:

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Exodus 20:12)

Over the years, Vision Forum Ministries has sponsored numerous retreats for fathers and sons. A reoccurring theme we find expressed among men in their forties, fifties, and sixties is the sadness experienced by many because they never really knew their fathers of the WWII generation and they never learned about their fathers’ role in the war. By and large, after the war, the men of that generation remained silent about their experiences. This omission has left a hole in the hearts of many.

Many of these men live with regrets. On more than one occasion, I have heard men weep as they declared, “If only I had asked him.... If only I had said thank you.”

I believe God is giving us a special opportunity to say thank you to the men who fought to secure our freedoms — to listen to their stories and to teach our children to honor their legacy of heroism. I hope to see you in Fredericksburg for this town’s Iwo Jima celebration, and then on Sunday, February 20, for our special “Honor Our Fathers” worship service and fellowship lunch.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 11, 2005 | Permalink

Welcome to “Daddy Jeopardy,” the wild and wacky world of questions from the Phillips peanut gallery around the Sunday table. The following questions were offered in rapid fire two nights ago over about a ten minute period:

Justice (Age 9): “Daddy, if air is all around us and God is all around us, is it possible that God is in air?”

Me: “Air is part of God’s creation...it is a gas...the pantheists believe...”

Jubilee (Age 6): “But who created God?”

Me: “No one created God...God always was...the Scriptures state...”

Jubilee: “But what was there before God?”

Jubilee: “Daddy, how can there be a time when there was no time?”

Me: “Jubilee, that is a hard thing for us to understand because....”

Justice: “Have any people every fallen through a black hole?”

Me: “Son, unless there was some unusual supernatural event, we can confidently...”

Justice: “If I do fall through a black hole, what would happen to me?”

Me: “Son, as far as we can tell, it would be a very bad experience because...”

Jubilee: “Do scientists know why bones grow differently with different people..”

Me: “Jubilee, here is what we do know...DNA...genes....”

Justice: “Why did God make black holes? Do they lead to heaven?”

Me: “I honestly don’t know the reason.....”

Faith (Age 5): “Have any dogs gone through a black hole?”

Me: “I am not aware of any dogs who have....”

Jubilee: “Do you think a dog will ever go through a black hole?”

Me: “I think it highly unlikely...however......”

Faith: “Will you be dead when I am a grandmother?”

Joshua (Age 11): “Faith, you’re not supposed to ask questions like that.”

Me: “That’s quite alright Faith. Actually.....”

Jubilee: “Will I be dead when my grandchildren are grandmothers?”

Me: “The bible says that God has appointed a normal life span...”

Joshua: “Daddy, in The Legend of Montrose why did Sir Walter Scott favor the British?”

Me: “Joshua, I am glad that...”

Faith: “So you’re sure Daddy that there are no dogs in black holes?”

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 8, 2005 | Permalink

I don’t think much of H.L. Mencken, but the following quote from nearly three quarters of a century ago demonstrates that even a broken clock is right twice a day.

“[T]he great majority of American colleges are so incompetent and vicious that, in any really civilized country, they would be closed by the police . . . In the typical American state they are staffed by quacks and hag-ridden by fanatics. Everywhere they tend to become, not centers of enlightenment, but simply reservoirs of idiocy. Not one professional pedagogue out of twenty is a man of any genuine intelligence. The profession mainly attracts, not young men of quick minds and force of character, but flabby, feeble fellows who yearn for easy jobs. The childish mumbo-jumbo that passes for technique among them scarcely goes beyond the capacities of a moron. To take a Ph.D. in education, at most American seminaries, is an enterprise that requires no more real acumen or information than taking a degree in window dressing . . . . Their programmes of study sound like the fantastic inventions of comedians gone insane.”

From H.L. Mencken, “The War Upon Intelligence,” Baltimore Evening Sun, December 31, 1928.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 8, 2005 | Permalink

“Nothing is more singular and instructive than the legislation of this period; there above all one finds the password to the great social enigma that the United States presents to the world in our day. Among these memorials, we particularly distinguish, as one of the most characteristic, the code of laws that the little state of Connecticut passed in 1650. The legislators of Connecticut occupied themselves first with penal laws; and, to compose them, they conceived the strange idea of drawing from sacred texts: “If any man, after legal conviction, shall have or worship any other God but the Lord God,” they say to begin with, “he shall be put to death.” There follow ten or twelve provisions of the same nature, borrowed from the texts of Deuteronomy, Exodus, and Leviticus. Blasphemy, sorcery, adultery, and rape are punished by death; insult done by a son to his parents is struck with the same penalty. . . . So one never saw the death penalty laid down more profusely in the laws, or applied to fewer of the guilty.”
- Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America 1.1.2 (37-38)

‘By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly’ — Proverbs 8:15

‘How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!’ — Psalm 119:9-10

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 8, 2005 | Permalink

Dear Doug and friends at Vision Forum,

An article appeared in the Baltimore Sun today that reminded me how much I have learned through Vision Forum about being a father and rasing boys. The article is: Men strive to be champions while failing to be real men (registration required), by Dan Rodricks.

The article discusses NFL players, and how many of them are driven to succeed due to a wrong or non-existent relationship with their fathers. I realize it may not be a new insight for you, but I just wanted to pass it along.

Thanks again for all that you do. My family and I are blessed over and over again by the many tapes and books we have acquired through Vision Forum, and by the articles that appear on the web site. May the Lord continue to bless your efforts to build and restore the biblical family.

David R.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 7, 2005 | Permalink

Dear Mr. Phillips,

I am the eldest son of Larry and Norma Sides, and as such have been acquainted with your ministry for some time.  Generally your words and efforts have been among the most encouraging, inspiring, and convicting that I encounter in the modern Christian culture.  For that, I offer my deepest (and much overdue) thanks.

However, I am now provoked to write in response to recent blog posts that exhibited less than your usual grace and charity.  In fact, these posts were filled with invective worse than, well, llama spit.  Herein follows a short defense of the beast with which you have had a rather unfortunate encounter.

I first started working with llamas when I was ten years old, and my family now owns a herd in excess of thirty, well-mannered and well-adjusted llamas.  You see, our llamas were home-schooled.  Llamas are generally peaceable, calm, even stoic creatures (we would not own thrity of them if they were normally as you describe).  They have personalities similar to cats: somewhat aloof and standoffish at times, but incredibly affectionate once they take a shine to you.  In the fourteen years that I have worked with these wonderful creatures, I have trained them, shown them across the Mid-Atlantic, shorn them, bred them, birthed them, trimmed hooves, generally poked and prodded them in numerous impolite ways, and even kissed dozens of them.  On but one hand I can count the number of times that my llamas have deliberately expelled their expectorate upon me, and all such events surround the occasion of giving shots, perhaps a reasonable excuse.  But, as I said, our llamas were home-schooled as all llamas should be: in a herd environment where they learn manners from the older llamas.

If I may hazard a guess, the wicked creature that assaulted you was a resident of a zoo or petting farm of some sort.  At the very least, this creature was probably reared on such a local, perhaps even bottle raised.  This is the farmer’s equivalent of kindergarten in a Government School.  Such creatures lack the necessary discipline to learn how to behave in polite company. 

Unfortunately, the llamas receive the most visibility are llamas of this type.  Llamas raised on private farms and ranches are nearly always docile and well-mannered towards humans, though they have no great fondness for coyotes.  In the past fourteen years I have had the opportunity to teach many children how to train and handle llamas, and such experiences are generally positive for all parties involved.  In fact, at age eight, my youngest brother was showing our senior breeding male at county fairs in Virginia and Maryland—a similar feat with any other large livestock would be impossible.

So, we do apologize for the bad apple that you met, but he represents the smallest of minorities and should not be taken as a standard member of the species.  We request that you reconsider your disposition towards these fabulous creatures. You have a standing invitation to visit Cornerstone Farm should you ever be passing through Madison County, Virginia.

Cordially,
Jonathan Sides

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 7, 2005 | Permalink

Christian Web publisher Joe Farah of WorldNetDaily.com has changed the way Christians and conservatives get their news. Look for my articles from Iwo Jima on WorldNetDaily.com this March as I travel with several hundred veterans and my own camera team for the sixtieth anniversary of the battle.

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 5, 2005 | Permalink

“Daisy, Daisy...give me your answer true.”

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 4, 2005 | Permalink

Dear Doug:

We laughed so hard at the Llama blog. We have had the same experiences, and the same with chickens!!! Too funny, it made our day here in COLD Michigan. By the way, we are big VF fans and we are listening as husband and wife to: “Building a Family That Will Stand” in the cold winter evenings by the wood stove! Thank you for blessing us. We received a $400 gift certificate for Christmas and bought our children all our Christmas gifts from the website!

The Kuncaitis Homeschooling Family
Zeeland, Michigan

Posted by Doug Phillips on February 3, 2005 | Permalink