December 2007 Archives

First, let me begin by offering my own special thanks to all of you who have made an on-line donation to Vision Forum Ministries as you have closed out 2007. Your support is a tremendous encouragement and God’s provision to help us to continue bringing a message of hope to the Christian family.

Second, I want to encourage you to remember other ministries as well. You may recall that last week I posted about the importance of taking time at the end of each year to express gratitude to those who have blessed you. Today, I want to encourage you to remember both individuals and ministries which have been a help to you, by taking this one last moment before the year ends to share a tangible sign of your support. If tax incentives are not your concern (and ultimately they shouldn’t be your primary motivation when giving), then perhaps the following considerations will be an aid to you as you bless others in 2008:

Bless Those Who have Blessed You: Imagine giving ten people the greatest blessing of their lives, only to be forgotten by nine of the ten. This is what happened to the Lord Jesus as described in the story of the miracle of the ten lepers found in Luke 17:11-19. But thank God for the grateful ONE who returned to praise the Lord. May God help each of us to be like the ONE, and not the nine. With less than a day in 2007, there is still time to pick up the phone and call, or to write a check to the men, women, and ministries which personally blessed you. In a world of selfishness and forgetfulness, tangible gratitude is a welcome expression of love.

Remember The Heroes of Our Generation and Generously Stand With Them Financially Take a moment and ask yourself: “What are the defining issues of our generation?” and “Who are the leaders fighting for the cause of Christ in each of those battles?” To my way of thinking, there are a few battles which are especially prominent before the Church today.

One is the battle for the defense, preservation, and integrity of the Christian family. One way the family is encouraged to persevere in a post-Christian America is by remembering the providences of God, such that we can cultivate gratitude and vision in the next generation. That is why I believe in supporting ministries that proclaim the providences of God, and actively teach the present generation of Christians to honor the faith of their fathers. I think of these as “Fifth Commandment Ministries.” Some of my favorites include the Plymouth Rock Foundation. Plymouth Rock Foundation; 1120 Long Pond Rd., Plymouth, MA 02360). Another is Marshall Foster of The Mayflower Institute. Click HERE to make a donation. Yet another is American Vision.

The second is the battle to defend the foundations of our faith, as presented in Genesis. This year Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis opened their Creation Museum. In my view, this was one of the most important developments in Christendom. The visionaries at AIG have not only brought an uncompromising message, they have done so wih excellence. They are heroes who deserve our support. Click HERE to donate online.

Also, if you agree that getting doctrinally rock-solid tracts and messages to the four corners of the earth is a priority for believers, then you will want to add Mt. Zion Chapel Library to your list of priority ministries to support. Headed by Jeff Pollard, this quiet, but remarkably effective ministry is my pick for the greatest “unsung hero” ministry in America. The sheer volume of literature they distribute is staggering, but they never lose site of the necessity that their litrature stay true to biblical orthodoxy. Visit them at Mount Zion Bible Church and Chapel Library.

Give Locally Just as prophets are often unwelcome in their own home towns, its also true that men and ministries who labor for the Lord in their own communities are often taken for granted. This is not right. The faithful brethren who labor amongst us should be the recipients of our most gracious generosity.

In my community, there are many special ministries, but two unusual ministries come to mind. I love both of them because they are quiet ministries which work behind the scenes to transform the lives of men through private mentoring and discipleship. Because of these “quiet” ministries lives have been transformed, families have been rescued from the brink of destruction, and peace has been cultivated in our community.

The first ministry is Bible Teaching Ministries, headed by Bob Welch, my good friend and a former elder of my local congregation. Bob and his wife Yvonne have touched the lives of thousands of people through one-on-one discipleship. The sterling testimony of the entire Welch family has brought hope to thousands. When I travel I am often met by individuals who bring me stories of the way this “quiet” ministry and the family behind it have impacted others. You can support their ministry by writing to Bible Teaching Ministries, 216 Headwaters Road, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

The second local ministry I believe in supporting is Sons of Encouragement. Under the leadership of Dennis Wean, this ministry is a discipleship outreach to men which has been responsible for helping fathers to lead in their homes, to overcome toxic sin-addictions, and to embrace their role as husbands and fathers. You can support this ministry by writing to Sons of Encouragement Ministries, 31018 Wildcat, Bulverde, TX 78163.

A third ministry which has had a national presence encouraging men to be biblical men, and exhorting the body of Christ to understand and embrace the spirit of reformation and revival, is Elijah Ministries, under the leadership of Norm Wakefield. Norm has helped thousands of fathers, and his ministry is worthy of support. Visit them and donate HERE or write to Elijah Ministries at P.O. Box 377, Bulverde TX 78163

Support Your Local Home School Ministry Home education is one of the brightest hopes for our nation. Many communities have faithful home education organizations which are fighting to help families follow the Lord by honoring the biblical commands to teach them the ways of God throughout the day (Deuteronomy 6). In my community, that organization is Family Educators of South East Texas (FEAST). For close to two decades this organization has helped to make San Antonio one of the most vibrant home school communities in America, and many parents share my own personal enthusiasm for the sacrificial efforts of the team members with FEAST. Click HERE to visit their website. Send your donations to: FEAST, 25 Burwood Ln. San Antonio, TX 78216

Remember the Prisoners As Americans we are often spoiled, fat, ungrateful, and unaware of the real hardship in the world around us. We must be ever mindful of those who are in chains, those who are persecuted, and those who suffer under the judgment that follows paganism, witchcraft, and totalitarianism. I believe that part of our diet of giving should be directed to the advancement and preservation of the Church in the darkest parts of the world.

One of the most remarkable ministries of sacrifice and love to lost tribes and nations is the Persecution Project Foundation headed by my brother Brad Phillips. The team at Persecution Project bring the Gospel, Bibles, and real physical relief into some of the darkest, most dangerous and war-torn areas of the world. Their ministry to the victims of Islamic Jihad and politically-motivated genocide in the Sudan is simply stunning. I urge you to read more about Persecution Project and to give generously to this amazing work for the Lord. Click HERE to donate online.

A TIP, AND A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOU Most ministries allow you to donate on-line. This is a quick and effective way to bless them. May I recommend that you do so, and that you give generously. You should be aware that many ministries are hurting financially this year. Giving seems to be down across the board. But even with less than a day before us, this trend can still be reversed.

May God give you a Happy New Year, and may he prosper your family vision in 2008.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 31, 2007 | Permalink

Click here to see Vision Forum Ministries’ Year in Review.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 31, 2007 | Permalink

Dear Friends:

Life moves fast. If we don’t take the time to chronicle the providences of God, we forget them. If we don’t take the time to say thank you to those who have invested in our lives, we actually cultivate a spirit of ingratitude in our own hearts. If we don’t stop and make sure that we have a spirit of forgiveness toward others, we grow bitter, we lose the capacity to move victoriously into the future, and our prayers are hindered.

Here is a little practice that I was taught and would like to share with you. Each year, during the last week of December, I would encourage you to do the following things.

I. Outline and Chronicle the Many Providences of God

Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. (Hab. 33:2)

First, using simple bullet points, outline the key events for every week of every month of the year. Take the time to do the research which will help jog your memory and allow you to make an accurate record. I find that reviewing bills, blogs, journals, newspaper headlines, letters, and even organizing my photographs chronologically are enormously helpful tools. Those individuals who were faithful to journal or keep a diary will have little problem reconstructing key events. Give yourself a good week to reconstruct your own outline of the year. Also, by making this a family project, you will not only build your list with greater speed and precision, but (in the hands of a loving patriarch) the very act of chronicling the providences of God in your life is a blessed tool for family discipleship.

Every family will have a different set of priorities directing what they should record. In addition to recording the key events and providences of the year chronologically, I try to take the time with my family to record some of the following information on separate bullet lists:

1. Where did I/we travel?
2. What were the titles and key texts of sermons I preached?
3. What books/articles did I write?
4. What significant household projects did we accomplish in 2007?
5. What were the most important meetings of the year?
6. What special friendships were made this year?
7. Which children lost teeth, and how many?
8. Who grew in physical stature, and how much did they grow?
9. Who learned to read this year?
10. What diet and physical exercise regimen did I maintain to honor “my temple”?
11. What books did I read? Did we read as a family? Did my children read?
12. What Scriptures did my family memorize?
13. What loved ones died this year?
14. What were the great personal/ministry/national tragedies and losses of the year?
15. What were the great personal/ministry/national blessings of the year?
16. What were my most significant failures/sins for the year 2007?
17. What unresolved conflicts/issues am I bringing into 2008?
18. What significant spiritual and practical victories did I experience?
19. In what tangible ways did I communicate gratitude to those who have blessed me and invested in my life?
20. What are the top ten themes of 2007 for my family?

II. Say ‘Thank You’ to Those Who Have Invested in Your Life

[I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. (Eph. 1:16)

Whatever happened to the man who first opened to you the words of life from the Scripture? Where is the comrade, coach, or instructor who believed in you and helped you to accomplish a great goal? What about the Bible teacher whose careful handling of the Word opened up new vistas of understanding? Where is the friend who stood with you through thick and thin? Most importantly, what have you communicated to the mother who carried you in her womb, loved and nurtured you, or the father who labored to provide for and shepherd you?

When was the last time you responded to their investment in your life with gratitude, blessings, and even money? Jesus reminds us of those ungrateful recipients of blessing who simply went their way without demonstrating gratitude (Luke 17).

Before the year ends, make a list of two types of people: The first list are the names of people whose life, ministry, or personal investment in you have deeply touched you and changed your life. (In my case, the list includes parents, pastors, and even some teachers from the early years of my Christian walk that I did not meet until much later in my life, but whose books and tapes were crucial to my personal discipleship as a young Christian.) The second list should include those people who played the most significant role in your life in 2007.

Write a brief, meaningful letter to each of them. Be specific in your gratitude. Explain what they did for you and why it was important to you. Show them how they were God’s instrument of blessing in your own life. Pray over each letter, asking God to grant you rich insights on the character qualities of each individual and on the way those qualities changed your own life. Where appropriate, include a check or special token of appreciation that reflects your desire to show them, tangibly, that you recognize that you are in their debt. You cannot imagine the joy this will give to someone from your past who may think you have forgotten them. Give generously and without concern for getting a tax deduction. I strongly recommend sending money to your parents. Keep in mind that you will never be able to return their personal and financial investment in your life, except through your testimony of faithfulness, covenant keeping, and honor to the Lord.

Also, your children need to know the people who have blessed their parents. They need to see that Mom and Dad are grateful and generous. Share your letters with them. In our household, we ask our children to write to some of the people who have blessed Mommy and Daddy, because our children are the indirect recipients of these blessings on their parents.

This will take a day or two to complete. You may have twenty letters to write, but you will never regret saying “thank you.”

One last thought: One reason why Christians are often limited in vision, energy, and blessings is that, contrary to the Lord’s command, we are ungrateful, unforgiving, and bitter. Far too many who profess the name of Christ spend more time obsessing on those who have wronged them than rejoicing in those who have blessed them. Letters and tangible expressions of gratitude are not only pleasing to Christ, but an antidote to heart-sickness.

III. Forgive Those Who Have Wronged You

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21)

In the course of a year, it is possible to build up many offenses and personal grievances at others. Left unaddressed, these grievances fester and grow. They turn the heart black and the body weak. They foster a spirit of vengeance and misguided self-righteousness. The short of it is this: Unforgiveness leads to bitterness. Bitterness curdles the mind and the spirit.

Fresh starts and new years should begin with forgiveness for others. Having a genuine spirit of forgiveness towards those who have wronged us is a mark of biblical Christianity. It is an evidence that we have been redeemed, and that we are praying lawfully: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

Successful Christians are men and women who are free from bitterness. They have learned the principle modeled by our Lord Jesus Christ who, while suffering death at the hands of people he had never wronged, was able to say “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24).

I have a dear preacher friend with a sterling reputation who was once grievously slandered. When asked about the wicked actions of the slanderers, he replied something to this effect:

Oh you don’t understand — I am far, far worse than my detractors realize. They may have gotten a lot of the specific facts wrong, but I am just thankful they don’t know how bad my heart truly is. God have mercy on me a sinner.

This man had victory over bitterness.

My father is another man who always appeared to have victory over bitterness. In fact, from my earliest days to the present, I have watched lesser men “twist the truths [he’s] spoken to make a trap for fools.”

Early in my life when I was still in government schools, I would listen to my own teachers criticize before my class the work my father was doing for the President to dismantle a government agency which was at war with the family. I read untruthful articles and saw derogatory comics on the pages of the Washington Post picturing him as a caveman for his “prehistoric” views. When my father was a leader in the Republican Party in Massachusetts, a gangster repeatedly threatened the life of his family. I remember being a boy and having my father shield me from homosexual picketers and protesters that would follow him and our family around at public locations.

Most painful and difficult for many to forgive is betrayal and dishonor. But that is a mistake. Betrayal and dishonor probably exist in the lives of most men. And why should any Christian be denied in their lives what past generations of Christians — and our Lord and Savior Himself — patiently endured? To our shame, most of us have been on both sides of that coin. From a son’s perspective, however, it is highly instructive to watch a father act honorably in the midst of such conflict. It has been a great blessing in my own life to observe my father nobly respond even in the face of barbs from former allies and friends, once loved and nurtured by him.

Eternally optimistic, Dad would always say: “Never be bitter. Life is too short. Thank God for your blessings. Press on!”

Bitterness comes from being unwilling to forgive. Bitter people are small people. They are unsuccessful people. They are people who cannot move forward. They are people who believe that the personal wrongs against them are so great that they — the offended — are entitled to do to their offenders what they pray the Lord Jesus Christ will never do to them: refuse to forgive.

Here is my recommendation: Think through every grief, minor and major, caused by others to you in the year 2007. Now add to the list any other personal offenses that continue to linger from past years. Write these down as bullets on a sheet of paper.

The first thing you will likely realize is just how many offenses are polluting your thought life and, probably, your spirit. This is a sign of latent bitterness. Bitterness will kill you. It renders you completely ineffective.

Now prayerfully walk through the list — bullet, by bullet. With each offense, remind yourself that the most despicable action taken against you by another utterly (and infinitely) pales in comparison to the least of your offenses against the Lord Jesus Christ.

And yet He has forgiven you.

Before 2008 begins, adopt a spirit of forgiveness towards your insensitive friends as well as your hateful enemies. Forgive your imperfect father for whatever it is you need to forgive him for (and pray to the Lord that your own children someday forgive you for your failures). Quit devoting untold precious hours to commiseration, mental replay of the wrongs done, and thoughts about just how badly you were wronged. Stop blaming everybody but you for your problems. Look to yourself. Once you start chronicling your own sinful attitudes and crimes against God and man, you simply won’t have time to worry about the wrongs done to you. You will stop being bitter, and you will start being thankful.

Wipe the slate clean. “Press on.” Forgive.

Conclusion

As 2007 comes to a close, take time to remember and to say “thank you.” Take time to examine yourself for bitterness. Forgive others.

It is appropriate that we do so on the birth of a new year. Remember that God gave man the stars on Day Four in part so that he could order and structure his days based on a clock/calendar system of days, seasons, and years (Genesis 1). He tells us to “remember” acts and to “number” our days. In Scripture, the formal act of remembering providences of God in our life is linked to hope, honor, and generational success (e.g., Psalms 44, 78, etc.). By February 2008, the year 2007 will be a distant memory. Strike now while the iron is hot. The opportunity to remember and to say “thank you” may never come again. And can you afford even one more day in which your prayers are hindered — because you were holding on to offenses and refusing to forgive?

Persevero,

Doug Phillips President, The Vision Forum, Inc.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 27, 2007 | Permalink

Arthur C. Clarke, author of numerous books including 2001: A Space Odyssey lives on in Sri lanka at the age of 90. His writings did more than any others (except perhaps Asimov, Bradbury and Heinlein) to advance the religious interest of evolutionary dogma through the science fiction genre.

One of the three last surviving World War I veterans died last week in Ohio. He was 109 years old, and a living reminder of the “war to end all wars”—one of the darkest moments in the history of humanity.

Aldous Huxley was born in the 19th century, and would write Brave New World in 1932, but his widow and biographer died last week at the age of 90. Both Aldous and his brother Thomas were revolutionaries in the cause of atheistic humanism, and advocates for applying the presuppositions of evolutionary theory to all various academic disciplines. The New York Times reports that “In 1963, as Mr. Huxley was dying of cancer, Mrs. Huxley ministered to him by injecting him with LSD and by reading aloud to him from the manuscript of The Psychedelic Experience, by Timothy Leary and others.”

The greatest spokesmen against Communist oppression, and one of the top heroes of the 20th century yet lives—-Alexander Solzhenitsyn. He was born December 11, 1918.

One month earlier, on November 7, 1918, the man who would become the most prominent evangelical of the 20th century was born. And at the age of 89, Billy Graham lives.

Finally, at the time of this writing, supercentenarian Edna Parker of Indiana, lives on at the age of 114, an is recognized as the oldest living person on earth. She was born on April 20, 1893, a child of the the nineteenth century. She was born the same year that both composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and President Rutherford B. Hayes died. That year Americans wrongfully overthrew the government of Queen Liliuokalani in Hawaii; Edison finished construction of the first motion picture studio; the New York Stock Exchanged crashed and a depression was launched. She married the year before the Titanic sank, lived most of her life in the 20th century, and now has thirteen great-great-grandchildren in the 21st century. She has vivid memories of three distinct centuries, and outlived her husband by 68 years.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 27, 2007 | Permalink

My children are growing so quickly. And so are yours.

Today, the fair-haired little boy is tugging at Daddy’s leg, but tomorrow he is a young man of stature, strength, and potential who will soon be a family leader in his own right. The pig-tailed little girl who is so generous to Daddy with her butterfly kisses will suddenly emerge as a woman whose heart will be given to the husband prepared by God to take Daddy’s place as the human love of her life.

Our time as parents of children is slipping away from us. Each day that passes without a self-conscious determination on our part to invest great spiritual resources into their lives and to equip them is a day lost. It is a day that will never be recovered.

What will be our message to the little boy and girl? How will we use the brief moments God has given to us to equip them to stand holy, pure, hopeful, and determined through the cultural tumult of our budding twenty-first century?

It is the mission of Vision Forum Ministries to encourage and inspire the Body of Christ to make this time — this season of precious parenthood — count for all of eternity.

That is why I thank God for 2007 — a year of life and death. I thank God that the Lord loves us enough to shake us up and hold our attention while there is still time. I thank God for seasons of pain as well as seasons of joy — because both help us to be people of remembrance, gratitude, vision, and action.

It is why the words of my dear but now departed spiritual son Michael Billings, in his sermon to the future fathers of his own generation, ring so true: “Seize the day.”

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 26, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 24, 2007 | Permalink

Earlier this year, Vision Forum Ministries awarded Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, with our “George Washington Man of the Year Award” for his perseverance in bringing to pass the AIG Creation Museum—a vision so huge, so daunting, yet so necessary, that we believe it stands as one of the most significant events—globally—for the Body of Christ. At last Christians have a world-class museum dedicated to the defense of the Word of God and an accurate presentation of science. God has worked through Ken, and his remarkable staff to bring to pass this epic achievement. All Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Despite the shameful indifference of Christian media sources to this great achievement, the secular press has taken notice. This week, Time magazine named the opening of the AIG Museum as one of the most important Christian events of the year. Spot on, Time!

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 20, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 20, 2007 | Permalink

“When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him.” Psalm 8:3-4

It is not the biggest or the fanciest, but the Answers in Genesis planetarium is the greatest one in America.

It is the greatest because it gives glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the greatest because it combines rock solid science and sound biblical exegesis to present fascinating and inspiring truths about the cosmos, and the God that created the cosmos less than seven thousand years ago. Special credit belongs to planetarium director and astrophysicist, Dr. Jason Lisle, who has done a first rate job of designing a planetarium presentation that combines state of the art technology with a creation science message.

Walking into the planetarium with my sons and my bride, I was transported back to my days as an eleven-year-old when I was a young theistic evolutionist with a passion for astronomy, but no sound biblical rudder to guide me in my pursuits of science. Later I came to Christ and was profoundly influenced by Dr. Henry Morris and Dr. John Whitcomb, whose landmark work The Genesis Flood, became one of the most significant books of my life. Now, at the age of 42, with young sons who share passions similar to mine when I was a boy, but who by God’s grace embrace the biblical interpretation of science, my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude for the singular blessing which God has allowed in the creation of a planetarium dedicated to the Truth. Not only was the message presented powerful, but the emotional impact of seeing the glory of stars was singular. My son Justice left the planetarium praising God, deeply moved and wanting more. I think this will be the experience of many boys and girls.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 20, 2007 | Permalink

It is the new AIG Creation Museum.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 20, 2007 | Permalink

Dear Mr. Ham,

Thank you so much for having my family come to the museum. It was just amazing! I had the opportunity a few years ago to come with my father to see the building in process. It is terriffic to see what has been accomplished in the last two and a half years. I loved walking through Noah’s Ark. That was my absolute favorite part of the museum. The realistic detail inside the ark showing all the layers was fascinating. I also enjoyed the planetarium. My daddy had described to us the planetariums he used to go to and he has always told my brother and me how he hoped to bring us to a creationist planetarium someday. How powerful to see a high quality museum from a creationist’s worldview. I look forward to coming back.

Thank you again for inviting us to your museum. The office tour, lunch, the museum, the whole day was wonderful!

Sincerely, Joshua Phillips (age 14)

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 20, 2007 | Permalink

I just wanted to write and say, “Thank you!” I ordered the Evangeline doll for my daughter on the 11th and I received it today, the 14th. I can’t believe how quickly it made it here. We bought the Liberty doll for her last year for Christmas and she absolutely loved it. I looked around a lot last year to find the perfect doll. I wasn’t thrilled with the American Girl dolls and when I found your Beautiful Girlhood Collection dolls, I knew I had found what I was looking for. Thank you so much for having great service and for offering such a wonderful product! Melissa P. Florida

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 17, 2007 | Permalink

I thank God for the impressive leadership of NCFIC Director, Scott Brown, who recently concluded the most successful regional conference to date. Thanks be to the Lord for His blessings. Read the complete report here.

More than 600 participants descended on Wake Forest, North Carolina for the NCFIC’s final regional conference for 2007. The conference—which focused on the reformation of church and home—included church leadership teams wanting to transition their churches to a more family integrated model, church planting teams from around the country, as well as individuals desiring a better understanding of biblical home and church life.

In addition, twenty Canadians drove nineteen hours to take part in the conference, and a group of thirty from a church in Florida also made the trip.

The speakers presented nineteen messages with simultaneous breakout sessions running between the keynotes throughout the two-day conference. The speakers included Scott Brown, Voddie Baucham, Andy Davis, Paul Renfro, Jason Dohm, Dan Horn, Steve Breagy, Eddie Burroughs, Mark Fox, Ken Auer, Boyd Dellinger, Marc Jantomaso, and Geoff Bright.

Young men provided tape duplication services.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 14, 2007 | Permalink

“The biblical paradigm for womanhood is marked by clear, though often hidden, distinctives. Especially are these noted in the Proverbs 31 description of the ‘woman of strength.’ PASSIONATE HOUSEWIVES DESPERATE FOR GOD provides the bookends for the life of this remarkable woman—on the one hand, she is passionate, enthusiastic about everything to which she puts her hand, even the most mundane tasks in her home; on the other hand, she is totally committed to what God wants her to be and to do without being swayed by culture or peers. She makes no apology about devoting her foremost energies and greatest creativity to her own family and household, and in so doing she is confident of offering her best and most precious gift to the Lord! Give us passionate women who are desperate for God, and we will change the world!” Dorothy Patterson, wife of Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 14, 2007 | Permalink

John Gill’s Commentaries are the only verse-by-verse commentary on the Bible ever written. And they are superior.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 12, 2007 | Permalink

A day at the home of Little Bear is always a day full of adventure and wonderful stories.

It means pretending to be a real little bear.

Hearing stories about a naughty little critter called Rocky Raccoon, who did not obey his raccoon mom and ended up a hat.

Playing with rocks.

And picking out special stones, polished by Little Bear himself, to have as a keepsake.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 11, 2007 | Permalink

“Daddy, may we please listen to Elsie Dinsmore?” For years, I have heard this request. Our tapes have practically worn out through repeated usage. Now, Vision Forum is pleased to bring you volume IV of this audio library. Narrated by Laurie Manteufel Click here for more information.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 10, 2007 | Permalink

Confession to God means acknowledging our sins and transgressions and taking hands off our lives to commit them unto God. It is a recognition that our defiant self-rule has been a disaster, and that we are ready to submit to God and His sovereign grace. It means dying to ourselves to live in Christ.

But, as Charles B. Fairbanks (1827-1859) said, in Memorials of Mrs. Grundy, “The sewing circle—(is) the Protestant confessional where each one confesses, not her own sins, but the sins of her neighbors.” There may well be a correlation between the decline of true confession and the rise of gossip, of confessing other people’s sins!

R.J. Rushdoony in The Cure of Souls: Recovering the Biblical Doctrine of Confession. Ross House Books, 2007, pg 54.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 10, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 7, 2007 | Permalink

Your video is changing lives!! I received and watched my copy a couple of weeks ago. When my brother-in-law and his girlfriend came over a few days ago I casually showed her the video and told her a little about it. She was interested!! So, I said, “You can take it home and watch it if you want.” She didn’t hesitate, “YES! I would like to see it!” Today she watched it, and came up to see me and bring back the DVD. She has never, in the 2+ years that I’ve known her, come up just to visit. When she walked thru the door, I noticed the movie, and said, “Oh yeah, the DVD, did you watch it?”

She responded “YES, I LOVED IT!!!!”

She followed me to the living room and before she even had the chance to sit down she blurted out, “All I’ve wanted to do since I was 9 years old was have a family and stay home to raise my kids!! I didn’t know I could do that.”

We talked for 3 hours!!! More than once she said she didn’t even know that not going to college and having a career, but staying home to raise a family was even an option!! “I didn’t know other people wanted that too!”

Thank you so much!! She wants to go to church and get married and stay home with her babies. Even though I stay home and home school our 8 children, she still didn’t think it was an option for her. Seeing your video made her realize how deceived she was and that she is not crazy for having desires to stay home...”

May the Lord bless you greatly, you have blessed my life!

Jennifer R., and homeschooling mother to our 8 children

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 7, 2007 | Permalink

Dear Vision Forum,

Your company is the best company that I have ever met.

I have 5 of your products. I have a flint starter, a cross bow, a claymoore, a revolutionary war outfit, and I have a throwing knife.

Two of the products I bought with my own money.

I am very thankful that you took the time to set up your company.

Love, Patrick F. II, 8 years old

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 7, 2007 | Permalink

Old Burial Hill, Plymouth Mass.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 6, 2007 | Permalink

It’s first rate.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 6, 2007 | Permalink

“When Jesus tells us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, He is not suggesting we transfer that personal responsibility to government. He is not suggesting we transfer that responsibility to our neighbors. He is not suggesting, as the old saying goes, we rob Peter to pay Paul.

This is a personal, individual responsibility of the believer. It doesn’t count if you get someone else to do the job for you. Christians aren’t supposed to say, “...this job is too big for me; I better lobby Washington for money. The politicians can tax everyone and turn the whole country into tithers!”

No, believers are supposed to act on their own initiative, or in concert with other believers, to meet needs as best they can and give all the glory to God.

Period. End of story. That’s compassion. It’s selfless. It’s sacrificial. It costs no one else anything.

Nowhere in the Bible does it suggest government should supplant the church’s responsibility to the poor, the hungry, the widows and orphans. Government’s job is to restrain evil, not bestow compassion.”

Read the context here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 6, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 5, 2007 | Permalink

The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood has done a first rate job of defending the biblical family against the destructive influence of feminism within the Evangelical community. Their website is a helpful source of important material presenting an orthodox defense of the biblical doctrine of male headship and related subjects. In his defense of biblical patriarchy on the CBMW site against what Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald have described as “white-washed feminism,” Russell Moore has observed that:

Egalitarians are winning the Evangelical gender debate. More and more Evangelical churches are filled with families that are not led by men. More and more Evangelical males and females are tacitly accepting the message of the culture, that is at its heart egalitarian. This is not because egalitarian arguments are stronger. Instead, it’s because in some sense we are all egalitarians now. The complementarian response needs to be more than simply a reaction to this. We must—instead of simply countering all of the proof texts of the egalitarians with our own responses to them—instead, we must present an alternative vision, a vision that sums up the burden of male headship under the cosmic rubric of the gospel of Christ and the restoration of all things in Him. We must understand that redemption is not about an escape from the creation order; it is about the restoration of the creation order, and that means that discipling the nations, means specificity in terms of what that looks like in the present era. We must produce churches that are not embarrassed to tell us that when we say, “Thou, our Father,” we are patriarchs of the oldest kind.

Evangelical Theological Society, 2005: Why Egalitarians are Winning the Evangelical Gender Debate, Russell D. Moore

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 5, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 5, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 5, 2007 | Permalink

The ACLU is currently calling on prosecutors not to file “charges against a teacher arrested for allegedly posting an anonymous comment online praising the Columbine shooters. “They knew how to deal with the overpaid teacher union thugs. One shot at a time!” the teacher wrote, and then praised the killers as heroes.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 5, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 5, 2007 | Permalink

Standing from the dock in Salem where the great missionary Adoniram Judson launched his mission to bring the Gospel to Burma on February 12, 1812, Bill Potter gives the history of late 18th and 19th century foreign missions programs. Judson was imprisoned and brutally tortured for his missionary efforts, but through his courage and self-sacrifice, the Gospel was brought to a people previously unfamiliar with Christianity.

Down the street from this location is the home of the great Nathaniel Bowditch, whose remarkable story was popularized in the book Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. An autodidact whose character and perseverance allowed him to accomplish great feats against all odds, Bowditch is credited as the founder of modern maritime navigation. His book The New American Practical Navigator is still required on every commissioned U.S. Naval vessel.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 4, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 4, 2007 | Permalink

The true story of the Salem Witch Trials is the account of a few weak and selfish men embittered by covetousness; a gaggle of extraordinarily vicious, gossiping women intent to destroy people who offended them in the name of Christ; a collection of undisciplined children who ruled over their parents; a herd of sheepish Christians who allowed themselves to be sucked into a gossip-mania and swayed by occult-influenced children; and a number of godly women and men, including prayer warriors and pastors, who paid the ultimate price for their neighbor’s Satanically-inspired delusion.

In an up-and-coming report, we will share the remarkable and helpful conclusions of Dr. Paul Jehle, America’s foremost Christian scholar on the subject of the Salem Witch Trials, concerning the implication of the trials for the Body of Christ. Some of his research is presented in the Vision Forum tape Puritans vs. Witches. But this year, Paul delved deeper and brought greater insights than I have heard before. Stay tuned.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 4, 2007 | Permalink

For our closing night at the Faith and Freedom Tour, we were surprised but delighted to have a special visit from Melanie Thomas—the winner of the Jamestown 400: Our National Treasure Hunt. For her persevering and victorious efforts, Melanie secured for herself a treasure trove of gold coins. The necklace she wears around her neck holds the key to the box that earned her the title “The Fifth Trustee.” In the above image, Melanie is pictured to the right of her sister. Supersleuth Jack Bradford (“The Fourth Trustee”) was unavailable for the meeting, but it is rumored that he was seen in Boston and Plymouth working on a new project and avoiding these people.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 4, 2007 | Permalink

One of the joys of the 2007 Faith and Freedom Tour was the privilege of spending it with Dr. and Mrs. Michael Billings, and one of their two daughters—-Jaime (their eldest daughter Jennifer is not pictured above). Upon my return home, I was blessed to read another special tribute to their son Michael—this time written by Michael’s close friend Caleb Hayden. Caleb has managed to capture what many who knew Michael are feeling so keenly—the need to learn from this man’s example by redeeming the time for the glory of God. Take a moment and read Caleb’s thoughtful essay found here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 4, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 3, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 3, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 3, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 3, 2007 | Permalink

My father Howard Phillips has posted on his blog the obituary of Professor Harold J. Berman, the polymath legal scholar and author of the seminal treatise Law and Revolution which I have on many occasions quoted and referenced during the Witherspoon School of Law and Public Policy. The book was first recommended to me for its fascinating content by Dr. R.J. Rushdoony who appreciated the helpful commentary Berman provides on Christianity and the common law. Professor Berman was a man of many talents, but most do not realize that he was also a student of the Russian language. According to the New York Times, his “language training, served him well in Moscow in 1958, in the first case he ever argued. Representing the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, he sought to extract royalties from the Soviet state on millions of Conan Doyle books sold in the Soviet Union. Winning in a Moscow city court, he later lost the case on appeal to a higher Russian Federation court.” Click here to read the rest

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 3, 2007 | Permalink

Times of contemplation.

Times of sadness.

But hope springs eternal.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 3, 2007 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 1, 2007 | Permalink