July 2006 Archives

The History of the World Mega-Conference was a milestone event in the history of Christendom. It drove a stake in the heart of the beast of modern secularism and historical theory. It also encouraged an intelligent army of believers that God is orchestrating all events, on their behalf, to spread the victorious Gospel of liberty from our homes, to our nation, and out to encompass the world. —Dr. Marshall Foster

In consideration of the overwhelming feedback Vision Forum has received from families expressing an interest in listening to the conference lectures, we are making a one-time offer. You can purchase sixty-two of the conference lectures. These CDs are conference CDs, so they have not been edited and they are not packaged in a pretty box. You will essentially be getting “the raw director’s cut” version. At some future date, we will present a well-produced, packaged, and edited version, but that will not be for some time.

Now through Monday, July 31, you can purchase the History of the World Conference Edition Library on sixty-two CDs, for a one-time offer of $250 per set. This means you are getting the CDs for just over $4 a CD. Alternatively, the entire sixty-two messages on MP3, condensed to two discs, are available for a limited-time for $175 per set. Sale ends midnight, July 31, 2006 (CDT). Stock is limited and sale prices are available only through Monday at midnight. Due to the unique nature of this sale, your order will be fully charged and processed upon checkout, and your order will be shipped out within 1-2 weeks. Click here to purchase the Unedited History of the World Conference Library.

For families interested in a cost-effective way to build a history curriculum with depth for your family, it does not get much better than this. Here is some feedback we received this morning in our e-mail inbox from attendees:

The History of the World Mega-Conference was a total barrage of invaluable and indispensable information. I was both overwhelmed and inspired. This conference was a confirmation of revelations God has been leading me to, but with terms and overviews that are very new to me, despite years of personal research into the warehouses of Christian and homeschooling resource materials. —Marian J.

This conference was a special blessing from God that came at just the right time. As a pastor and father, I was struggling to find the right resources and gain a good providential perspective of history in order to better teach my flock in the home and in the church. My public school education left me ignorant and malnourished in this area. This conference gave me the perfect start to a lifetime of learning, studying and teaching history in a way that helps all of us better worship and serve the God of history. —Joseph B.

I recognize there are multitudes who possess a much greater level of comprehension than I do on such matters, but I suspect my family represents the audience the Vision Forum Ministry seeks to educate and inspire. I am a homeschool mother of three boys (ages 12,7&5), who, for the most part, carries the weight of providing my sons with their formal education. And even though I have a college education and have attended Christian worldview conferences, Christian homeschooling conventions (with highly-informed speakers) and read my share of Christian literature and homeschool curriculums, I have yet to encounter the names and materials of the speakers at the History of the World Mega-Conference, much less their amazingly simple insight into God’s careful hand throughout time and history. I was as infantile as they come when hearing the topics of your notable speakers (to which I find myself asking ‘how can this be?’). —Marian J.

This series of lectures taught by Dr. Paul Jehle did the most to help me gain a foundational understanding of God’s providential workings throughout history and how they relate to His redemptive purposes. His lectures helped me see the big picture better than I have ever seen it before. —Joseph B.

We share a love of books and history and a disdain for much of modernity. My six year old son and my husband (a West Point graduate and Major in the US Army) particularly enjoyed his battle lectures. Kirk spent many hours studying battles at the USMA, but never in the light in which Mr. Potter presented them. It was a much greater joy to him this time around!

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 28, 2006 | Permalink

Take a good look at this picture.

There is a story in it. Something fishy (perhaps something wonderful) is going on. I am just not sure what it is.

Would you help me solve the problem?

I am looking to you to tell me the story behind this picture. Dream me up a whopper, and then tap it out on your keyboard.

The story should be less than 500 words. Young or old, boy or girl — no matter — any friend of Vision Forum Ministries may participate. Just get me your story by August 4. The Phillips children and the Vision Forum staff will pick our very favorite. The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate for the Vision Forum family catalogue and will have their story run on the Vision Forum Web site. Write to me at our general inbox address, president@visionforum.com. Have fun with this one.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 27, 2006 | Permalink

Below are a few slides from my “6,000 Years of Earth History in an Hour” discussion at the History of the World Mega-Conference.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 27, 2006 | Permalink

Words cannot describe the hope and the vision that my heart gained at [The History of the World Mega-Conference]. Such wonderful truths about God’s providence, mercy, and judgment throughout all of history were so boldly proclaimed that I had to examine my own heart and mind and repent of my own lack of faith in such an Almighty God. I learned that history is truly His Story, that it reveals unto us an infinitely more powerful and wonderful God than our minds can comprehend. My heart desires more of these wonderful historical truths that light up the paths ahead of us. I’m ordering the CD’s and hope and pray that my entire family will go to the next one! I also hope to go to Jamestown in ‘07—you’ve convinced me! To God be all glory! Emily Walker P.S.—The fellowship I had with other dear families was so precious, I long for more. Thank you so much for all the work in putting together this conference. I am positive of the glorious impact it had towards the Kingdom of God. Allelujah! —Emily W.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 27, 2006 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 27, 2006 | Permalink

By Joshua Phillips, Age 13

My favorite lecture from the History of the World Mega-Conference was Mr. Potter’s lecture on “The History of Libraries and Books.” Mr. Potter used the analogy that the Bible is our sun and other Christian books are the moon and stars. The rest of the books are galaxies to be looked at in light of the Bible.

Mr. Potter spoke on the many great men of America who loved books and used them to make them better men. For example, General Henry Knox, of the War for Independence, gathered all his knowledge of war from the bookstore he owned! In addition, Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, who read one book a day, would have men carry a small library through Africa for him.

We also learned about libraries from around the world. During the rise and fall of China, the emperor in power would destroy all the books in order to control the history. In defense, the people would carve the books into the walls of caves and cover them with dust to keep them from being destroyed. The library of Alexandria, which was burned four times, would hire people to be scribes for life. In return, they paid no taxes and were given food and a pension.

I love to read books myself, so it was a great blessing to study this subject with Mr. Potter. I hope you will come to the next History of the World Conference and come to Jamestown for America’s birthday in ‘07!

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 25, 2006 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 24, 2006 | Permalink

One of the most popular lecturers during the History of the World Mega-Conference was Bill Potter, who presented a four-part series giving a providential interpretation of twenty of the greatest military battles in history.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 24, 2006 | Permalink

The 2006 “Jamestown to Jubilee” Vision Forum Faith and Freedom Tour at Monticello on July 4.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 24, 2006 | Permalink

Tragedy is not a Christian form of literature. Rather, it is pagan, and sometimes in modern forms it is very anti-Christian. Tragedy assumes that the universe is hostile to man. It does not see man as a sinner nor the universe as God-created and God-ruled. Instead, it sees man as a victim. The chorus in Sophocles’s Oedipus the King declares, “Alas, ye generations of men, how mere a shadow do I count your life! Where, where is the mortal who wins more of happiness than just the seeming, and, after the semblance, a falling away? Thine is a fate that warns me, — thine, thine unhappy Oedipus — to call no earthly creature blest.”

The tragic view of life precedes the breakdown of culture because it encourages the belief that life is perverse and hopeless.

Modern state plays, movies, television, and novels are much given to presenting tragedies and teaching an anti-Christian religion thereby. Life is presented as meaningless or perverse. Man does not have a chance, nor is it his fault that he fails. —R.J. Rushdoony

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 24, 2006 | Permalink

...in the Phillips family.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 24, 2006 | Permalink

With nearly nine hundred currently registered, space is still available to sign up for the 2006 Vision Forum Ministries Entrepreneurial Bootcamp. VFM is pleased to offer more than $7,500 in cash prizes for best business plans as part of our business plan competition. Read more about the contest at www.visionforum.org.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 22, 2006 | Permalink

It is 110 degrees here in Phoenix, Arizona, but the heat did not prevent more than 3,500 from attending the AFHE state home education convention where I had the blessing of bringing six messages, including a keynote presenting a biblical philosophy of Christianity and culture. We met many beautiful families in which the heart of fathers had turned to their children, and the hearts of the children had turned to their fathers. Thank the Lord for His tender mercies in the lives of these precious home educators.

The convention theme for the weekend has been multi-generational faithfulness, and it was an honor to address this theme beside my friend Jeff Myers, who was also a featured keynote at this year’s convention. In addition to my keynote on Christianity and culture, my other messages included: “How to Think Like a Christian,” “The Wise Woman’s Guide to Blessing Her Husband’s Vision,” “The Visionary Father’s Role in Home Education,” “The Blessed Marriage,” and “Uniting Church and Family.” Congratulations to the team at AFHE for having the courage to tackle so many controversial but noteworthy subjects. Thanks also to the numerous families who offered such tremendous encouragement to the Vision Forum Ministries team.

After the conference we enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship with some very courageous pastors from Phoenix, Flagstaff, and the vicinity. Each of these men was committed to building local churches that encourage fathers to embrace their duties in the local church and as family shepherds, that reject the youth culture philosophy of evangelism and discipleship, and that seek to follow the biblical patterns of family-integrated worship during the meeting of the church.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 22, 2006 | Permalink

At Vision Forum Ministries’ History of the World Mega-Conference last week, Dr. George Grant provided a Christian analysis of the rise of Islam, the Crusades, and the relationship of Islam to the West in the twenty-first century.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 21, 2006 | Permalink

Dear Vision Forum,

Our names are Liesl (8), Lily (4), and Annabel (2). We are three sisters who enjoy Everyday News. We like all of your reports. Some of our favorites are the Doll House, the Burrowing Geoduck, and the report by Beth Anne about how to make teddy bears. We also enjoy the carts reports and think Kirk is really funny when he gets ready to go down the big hill with the Model T Trailer. Lily also likes to see the Blue Cart and the Limo. It is fun to see them go down the big hill.

Seeing the doll house by Beth Anne, Christiana, and Susanna inspired us to make a doll house of our own. We made clothes for our dolls and we also made food out of playdough and painted it. It was very fun.

Annabel (2) loves to watch Honor, the Donut Boy. Lily and Annabel like to hear Honor talk about his favorite donuts. They think he is so cute and funny. Krispy Kreme donuts are our favorite donuts too. Whenever we go to a town with Krispy Kreme donuts, our family buys two dozen HOT DONUTS NOW!! (We have seven children in our family.)

We pretend to have our own news reports at home and we also have our own newspapers. We hope to some day do a report for Everyday News but we have to get a camera first.

Thank you for Everyday News!

In Christ Jesus,
Liesl, Lily, and Annabel

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 21, 2006 | Permalink

At this year’s History of the World Mega-Conference, Dr. Marshall Foster of the Mayflower Institute brought hope, enthusiasm, and practical wisdom for building multi-generational family dynasties. He delivered the Thursday evening keynote before a crowded auditorium. His topic: “How Families Have Changed the World.”

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 20, 2006 | Permalink

Jubilee Phillips reviews her notes from the lectures at the History of the World Mega-Conference.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 20, 2006 | Permalink

Matthew and Jennie Chancey hold their twin newborns Patrick Henry and St. George Tucker in front of the Capitol Building in Williamsburg, Virginia, during a break in the History of the World Mega-Conference mini-tours.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 20, 2006 | Permalink

On Tuesday night, July 18, 2006 a Royal Navy warship-HMS Gloucester left Beirut carrying children and pregnant women in a large-scale evacuation of Britons fleeing the Israeli onslaught of Lebanon. The HMS Gloucester, a Type 42 destroyer, had about 180 priority evacuees on board, as it set off on the 150 mile trip to Cyprus. Those priority evacuees were all women and children. Ninety-four years after the sinking of the Titanic the British Navy still adheres to the doctrine of “Women and Children First.”

Click here to read the full story.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 20, 2006 | Permalink

Over the years, one of the most encouraging testimonies which we often receive from those attending Vision Forum Ministry conferences is that the events provide a time of great refreshment and encouragement for Christian families to fellowship, renew their vision in Christ, and meet like-minded brothers and sisters. We thank the Lord that this theme was repeatedly echoed by attendees this last week in the context of The History of the World Conference.

The History of the World Conference provided young men with an opportunity to spend time with some of their favorite teachers and preachers. There were many opportunities for “lighter” moments as well. In the above picture, Dr. John Whitcomb teaches Noah Botkin how to play hymns on the “hand pipe.”

Noah (the young man featured on the cover of our League of Grateful Sons album) gets a hug from one of the founding fathers of the modern creationist movement.

The Embassy Suites, adjacent to the Hampton Roads Convention Center, provided the perfect venue for the better part of the nearly one thousand participants in this years History of the World conference.

Lt. Col. Mark Moss (USAF ret.), an elder at Yorktown’s Covenant Heritage Reformed Fellowship, organized an outstanding team of approximately three dozen volunteers which helped to make the logistics of the History of the World Conference a success.

Special thanks to Matt Chancey for providing some live blogging from the History of the World Conference

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 19, 2006 | Permalink

They came from Australia and New Zealand and from Alaska and California to attend Vision Forum Ministries’ History of the World Mega-Conference this last week. Nearly one thousand home educators, Christian school students, moms and dads, and children came to hear Dr. John Whitcomb, Dr. John Morris, Dr. George Grant, Col. John Eidsmoe, Dr. Paul Jehle, Dr. Floyd Jones, Dr. Joe Morecraft, Dr. Marshall Foster, the Honorable Howard Phillips, William Potter, Geoff Botkin, and more present sixty-eight lectures on diverse subjects covering more than six thousand years of earth history. Over the next week, we will post reports and images from this groundbreaking event.

Above: Speakers participating in the panel discussion: “The Twentieth Century: An Autopsy.” Panel includes Dr. Marshal Foster, Dr. Paul Jehle, the Honorable Howard Phillips, Col. John Eidsmoe, William Potter, Geoff Botkin, and Doug Phillips.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 18, 2006 | Permalink

Mark your calendar for the week of June 11-16, 2007 for special celebrations sponsored by Vision Forum Ministries in Jamestown to mark the four hundredth anniversary of America’s birth. Details to follow.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 18, 2006 | Permalink

This week, Matthew Chancey is providing ongoing coverage of the History of the World Mega-Conference. Visit his blog to stay up-to-date!

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 13, 2006 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 6, 2006 | Permalink

The Colonial Williamsburg Junior Fife and Drum Corps marching down Duke of Gloucester street this July Fourth to the tune of Chester.

Let tyrants shake their iron rod,
And Slav’ry clank her galling chains,
We fear them not, we trust in God,
New England’s God forever reigns.

Howe and Burgoyne and Clinton too,
With Prescot and Cornwallis join’d,
Together plot our Overthrow,
In one Infernal league combin’d.

When God inspir’d us for the fight,
Their ranks were broke, their lines were forc’d,
Their ships were Shatter’d in our sight,
Or swiftly driven from our Coast.

The Foe comes on with haughty Stride;
Our troops advance with martial noise,
Their Vet’rans flee before our Youth,
And Gen’rals yield to beardless Boys.

What grateful Off’ring shall we bring?
What shall we render to the Lord?
Loud Halleluiahs let us Sing,
And praise his name on ev’ry Chord.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 6, 2006 | Permalink