November 2008 Archives

I praise the Lord for the privilege of hosting a special multi-generational Thanksgiving broadcast with my father Howard Phillips and son Joshua. We were filling in on KSLR for our good friend Adam McManus, San Antonio’s most courageous and best loved Christian radio commentator.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 30, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 30, 2008 | Permalink

The Mayflower Pilgrims set aside a day to honor the Lord with thanksgiving and feasting. On that day they enjoyed martial drills and shooting competitions. Our Thanksgiving festival tradition includes that spear throwing competition. We normally use a boar spear, and a spear made from our favorite knife produced by the Cold Steel company.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 30, 2008 | Permalink

Whenever Mimi comes to town, she brings a copy of one of Walter R. Brooks’ Freddy the Pig stories to read aloud to the children. This week she read Freddy and Simon the Dictator.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 30, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 30, 2008 | Permalink

Thanksgiving is also a time to rejoice in new life. Bob, holds newborn baby Knox Defender Bradrick.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 30, 2008 | Permalink

Honor helps his little sister find her seat.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 30, 2008 | Permalink

Every detail must be in place as friends and family gather to rejoice and give thanks to the Lord.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 30, 2008 | Permalink

One of the beauties of Christian community is seeing the way that the daughters of a congregation love to love the other little girls. Big sisters and friends abound where Christ rules and family-integrated activities are encouraged in the local church. In the above picture Ellen holds three year old Elizabeth, as they watch Elizabeth’s brothers and father hurl spears in the Thanksgiving throwing competitition.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 30, 2008 | Permalink

Thanksgiving was also a time for the boys of our congregation to play pilgrim, to sword fight, and to climb trees at the Phillips home.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 30, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 26, 2008 | Permalink

Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin have recently written on their website about the Childish Homeschool Syndrome:

We Have Found the Problem, and It is Us

Of course, none of us were raised perfectly. Our imperfect parents, many of them first-generation Christians, often had to work out biblical marriage and parenting and family from the ground up. Homeschooling was an intimidating experiment for most. And yes, parents make mistakes. However, once we consider ourselves adults we need to take responsibility for our own shortcomings.

There comes a point where every person must rise above his circumstances, for no circumstances are perfect. Each of us stands alone before God, individually responsible for his own deeds, misdeeds and lack of deeds, and God (we know from Scripture) does not accept blame-shifting. When we realize we are lacking in areas, the childish response is to deny responsibility and blame Mommy and Daddy.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 26, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 26, 2008 | Permalink

We still have space available for the Reformation 500 Celebration. Learn more about this great family event here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 26, 2008 | Permalink

May God have mercy on us. This is so evil—Planned Parenthood gift certificates to murder little boys and girls.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 26, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 25, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 25, 2008 | Permalink

A team of friends from our community traveled to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum this Saturday for a journey of discovery to uncover the rich history of the Lone Star State. A highlight of the trip was a series of stirring lectures on honor, providence, and manhood delivered by Wesley Strackbein, Vision Forum’s own resident Texas historian.

Wesley brought to life the remarkable history of Moses Austin who deeply loved his son Stephen Austin, who is known today as the founding father of Texas. Moses discipled his son and later commissioned him to complete the mission of building Texas. The vision of Moses Austin and his relationship with his son is depicted in one of America’s great monuments to visionary fatherhood found here in San Antonio, Texas, not far from the Alamo. (Conceptually, the monument appears to have some similarities to the SAICFF Jubilee award.)

Also stirring was the story of Sam Houston, a wayward and honorless young boy who became a man of great courage and ability. Indian agent, lawyer, general, governor of Tennessee, president of Texas, and much more, his life was marked by significant victories, losses, despairs, and joys. His life is an example of the power of redemption. Once an honorless man, Houston’s life was transformed into a testimony of unflinching honor and integrity and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Later in his life, he married wisely—a woman whose gentle counsel and undying love stirred him in his devotion to Christ. Houston was mentored by Andrew Jackson, a man he deeply loved and defended. Houston named his son Andrew Jackson Houston after his beloved mentor. The boy went on to live a distinguished life, became good friends with Theodore Roosevelt, and ultimately lived until the onset of the Second World War, even serving in the United States Senate for a brief time at the age of 87.

Our day began with a message that Wesley and I brought on Mayan, Aztec, and Inca civilizations, early Spanish exploration, and the conquest of Texas and Central America.

Jeff and Doris Horn joined us.

Texas men.

Noah brought a masterful message on the history of the Texas Rangers. One of my favorite quotes that Noah shared with us about the Texas Rangers was this one:

A large proportion ... were unmarried. A few of them drank intoxicating liquors. Still, it was a company of sober and brave men. They knew their duty and they did it. While in a town they made no braggadocio demonstration. They did not gallop through the streets, shoot, and yell. They had a specie of moral discipline which developed moral courage. They did right because it was right. - John Ford

Our team listens as my son Joshua gave a lecture on the history of Davy Crockett.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 24, 2008 | Permalink

Starring Dean Jones. To sign up for the SAICFF, go here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 21, 2008 | Permalink

To sign up for the SAICFF, go here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 21, 2008 | Permalink

Starring Dean Jones. To sign up for the SAICFF, go here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 21, 2008 | Permalink

...and having tons of fun.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 20, 2008 | Permalink

“It is not time to be asleep upon the top of a mast in a rough sea, when there are so many devouring dangers around us.”—John Owen

John Owen, “Perilous Times,” The Works of John Owen, Vol. XVI, ed. by Thomas Russell (London: Richard Baynes, 1826), p. 358.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 20, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 19, 2008 | Permalink

Refocusing Hearts

I just wanted to say Thank You for putting this ministry and site together. I am the mother of two boys (3 years and 18 months). I have looked for tools to help our family grow and have, far too often, found Christian psychological writings, books, and DVDs that frankly make my head spin. Thank you for re-focusing the hearts of mothers and fathers on God’s plan ... free of modern-day spin! I’m grateful that God gave your wisdom and insight. I’m also eternally grateful that you decided to share it with others! Thank you!

Thanks for Staying Away From Fads and Upholding Biblical Values

We wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for your quality products and desire to uphold the traditional family. With 10 children (7 boys), it’s nice to have a source devoid of the lastest fad and products that reflect Biblical values. Thank you. Blessings, The R. Family

This Year Will Be Different

Good Afternoon Doug; Thank You for all of your work and the passion you have for God & his word. As a father of 4 young children your messages and information are much appreciated and needed. It is good to know I am not alone in my desire to serve the Lord and lead my family as our father and their fathers were taught. I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving! This year will be much different than past, as you have inspired and informed me. Thank You again, David

An 83-Year-Old On “The Kingdom”

Just received your “Reformation & Revival.” Refreshing! I’m 83 now and have spent many years feeling alone,...Thanks for putting forth “The Kingdom” so we may help fulfill “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ.” Mrs. McKean

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2008 | Permalink

There are a few spaces left for the two-day 2009 Plymouth Faith and Freedom Mini-Tour, just before the Reformation 500 Celebration. I expect this trip to be full shortly, perhaps within days.

It may be summer time, but you can still enjoy a celebration feast with the Mayflower Pilgrims and home educators from across the nation.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2008 | Permalink

Dr. Andy McIntosh reveals some astonishing evidence that confirms the biblical account of the Tower of Babel within the Chinese language. A must watch.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 17, 2008 | Permalink

As President of the United States there are just some things that you can’t do. One of them is send email.

The New York Times offers this fascinating commentary on the Presidency and the Internet:

Sorry, Mr. President. Please surrender your BlackBerry.

Those are seven words President-elect Barack Obama is dreading but expecting to hear, friends and advisers say, when he takes office in 65 days.

For years, like legions of other professionals, Mr. Obama has been all but addicted to his BlackBerry. The device has rarely been far from his side — on most days, it was fastened to his belt — to provide a singular conduit to the outside world as the bubble around him grew tighter and tighter throughout his campaign.

“How about that?” Mr. Obama replied to a friend’s congratulatory e-mail message on the night of his victory.

But before he arrives at the White House, he will probably be forced to sign off. In addition to concerns about e-mail security, he faces the Presidential Records Act, which puts his correspondence in the official record and ultimately up for public review, and the threat of subpoenas. A decision has not been made on whether he could become the first e-mailing president, but aides said that seemed doubtful.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 17, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 17, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 17, 2008 | Permalink

What’s in a name? Maybe more than you realize.

Your parents give you many things, but one of the most important is your name. You begin and end your life with it. It is the one moniker that you carry with you all the time, wherever you go. It never leaves you.

In fact, the gift of your name is so significant that, long after you are dead and buried, your name will continue to be used by others when they are talking about you. If you happen to be a famous person like Noah or Alexander the Great, that could mean thousands of years. At the beginning of your life, your name is a form of identification, a term of endearment, and sometimes a window into the priorities of your parents at the time of your birth. As you mature, so does the value and meaning of your name. As people get to know you better, your name becomes more than simply a word for identification, but the verbal personification of what you are as a man or a woman. This is why “a good name is more valuable than great riches.” It is why one of the most precious inheritances a parent can leave for his children is a good name. By the end of your life, your name has become synonymous with who you are, or at least what others perceive about your life work and your character.

Your name is likely to become one of the most widely used proper nouns in your vocabulary and the vocabulary of those close to you. Over the course of your lifetime, you will probably hear someone call you by your name between two and four million times, depending on factors like where you live, your profession, your involvement in church and community, and the number of people in your family. So get used to it.

And that is just the amount of times you will hear yourself addressed by name. This does not include the potential tens of millions of times that others will use your name to talk or write about you when you are not with them. Some names appear better suited for certain individuals than do others, but in a universe ruled by the sovereign God of the Scripture, we can be assured that no name is ever given to an individual which does not carry with it some providential implications for that person’s life.

In twenty-first-century America, there are many factors which influence a parent’s decision about what to name their child, including personal preferences, whim, and status. There is even a trend for some parents to select names that provide a perceived competitive edge in the professional world.

There are parents who check Social Security number data to avoid names that are overly trendy. The Wall Street Journal reported that some parents living in a market-driven society and feeling intense pressure to give their children names that will help them in the work force actually hire professional baby-naming consultants to help them to “brand” their children. These consultants employ mathematical formulas and data search engines to determine whether or not a particular name has positive or negative associations. These experts also evaluate names based on their ethnic origins, phonetic elements, and popularity.

Sometimes the difference between true vision, on the one hand, and genuine foolishness, on the other, is clearly a matter of perspective or divergent worldview. In other cases, foolishness should be pretty self-evident. Consider the 2008 example of a New Zealand couple who lost temporary custody of their nine-year-old daughter for naming her “Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.” The naming of his son and daughter Dweezil and Moon Unit, respectively, by celebrity rock musician Frank Zappa never raised custodial issues, but certainly caused the general public to scratch their heads.

Marketing strategies? Competitive edge? Obvious foolishness? Does any of this make sense to the Christian parent?

I don’t think so. But neither does it make sense to me that parents should pick a name based purely on whim. John is a fine name, and so is Mary, but giving them to a child for no reason other than that you can’t think of another name will do little to inspire your child in the future. Both are excellent names are rich in meaning, history, and profound biblical significance. How much better to name a child for one of these reasons?

My thesis is this: The naming of a child is one of the most important decisions you will make on behalf of your son or daughter, so be deliberate. Make an “epistemologically self-conscious” choice. Be biblical. Consider your reasons and motivation for the name.

Make sure they are consistent with Scripture. Be prepared to carefully articulate your reasons to others. Consider also the message this name is sending to your child and the world with which he or she will spend the rest of his or her life interacting. When picking names, it is fine to consider sound, meter, popularity, ethnic background, meaning, association, and family history, but, in the final analysis, you should use his name to motivate your child and encourage him to persevere before the Lord. This means selecting names with the understanding that the day will come when you are prepared to give a meaningful, biblical explanation for the name of your child.

(The above is just a portion of the chapter “The Coming of Mahershalalhashbaz,” from the book The Little Boy Down the Road. To read the whole chapter click on the banner at the top of this article.)

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 13, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 12, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 12, 2008 | Permalink

For today and tomorrow only, Vision Forum is offering a free download on behalf of the National Center for Family Integrated Churches in celebration of their upcoming conference: “How the Church Can Strengthen the Family in the 21st Century” - Dec. 5-6. We are providing free, Scott Brown’s message, “What is a Family Integrated Church?”

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 11, 2008 | Permalink

We have some big announcements coming down the pike over the next two weeks. There have been a number of very exciting developments for both the Christian Filmmakers Academy and the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. With 250 submissions to this year’s SAICFF, including 50 feature-length films, our judges have been working around the clock to select our crop of semi-finalists and feature finalists. Stay tuned for more breaking news, and don’t forget to sign up early for a spot at the Christian Filmmakers Academy and the SAICFF for what will unquestionably be the most exciting and best family-friendly festival experience in the five-year history of this Christian culture-advancing event.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 10, 2008 | Permalink

Are males becoming an endangered species? That’s the question scientists and researchers have been pondering since alarming trends in male fertility rates, birth defects, and disorders began emerging around the world. Read more about it here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 10, 2008 | Permalink

Click here to download.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 10, 2008 | Permalink

About one hundred spaces left for the two-day 2009 Plymouth Faith and Freedom Mini-Tour, just before the Reformation 500 Celebration.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 10, 2008 | Permalink

I want to thank all of you who took time to write and express your love on the anniversary of the death of my dear son in the Lord, Michael Billings. He was so very dear to me and to all of us and we miss him dearly. This young man accomplished so much in his brief 19 years that his testimony continues to inspire thousands through his written words, sermons, and life message. Below is one of the letters we received.

Dear Mr. Phillips,

Thank you for sharing that special tribute of Michael Billings with so many of us. To be honest, I still can’t believe he is not with us any more. No, we did not know him personally. Our family had the pleasure of having Michael be our tour guide for Williamsburg during the Jamestown 400. When we were first told that he was speaking instead of Dan Ford, we were a bit disappointed as we had never heard of Micahel. We were in for a wonderful surprise.

He gave such an incredible speech with great oration that we didn’t want it to end. In fact, the cover picture of the memorial book is from our tour. Our family walked away from that tour thinking, “This young man is going to go far. Wow!” We even got his autograph. Thank you for encouraging us all to do that with the speakers. We treasure this gift. When we found out about the accident, our family was shocked. We cried. We prayed. It truly made us stop and think of our own lives and eternity. We have been challenged by his life through his own writings, speeches, and the ones who knew him. When I saw the pictures of him, all I could see was Michael worshipping the Lord in Heaven!

Because of your ministry, our family has grown from five to seven children and we hope to have more. Our family is not the same. We are so thankful for your ministry...I just wanted you all to know at Vision Forum that all of your hard work is producing fruit in so many lives; not only your own, but all over the world. Thank you, and may God truly Bless each one of you.

Liane I.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 8, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 7, 2008 | Permalink

Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of the home-going of my dear friend and son in the Lord Michael Billings. One year ago Tuesday, the Lord chose to take Michael into eternity, but his testimony has become as that of Abel’s. Even now, a year after leaving us, “he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4).

The video above includes the musical tribute Benjamin Botkin composed along with a photo presentation of his life from the past few years. You can download a copy of this beautiful musical composition for free by going today to www.behemoth.com.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 6, 2008 | Permalink

Check out this powerful Christian classic and download the audio book for your iPod!

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 6, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 6, 2008 | Permalink

Elijah Brown has written a thoughtful blog post reflecting on the last eight years and the lessons Christians need to learn from Tuesday’s election:

With only a couple of months left in office the liberal legacy of George Bush can teach us a valuable lesson. Eight years ago I remember contending with fellow Christians about the importance of not wasting their vote on a third party. After all “a vote for a third party was a vote for Gore”, even if there was a good third party candidate the election was much too important to waste your vote. Why, if Gore wins the presidency it will be like Clinton all over again, yet worse. Besides, George W. Bush was a great “evangelical” presidential hopeful that was going to restore Christian conservative values to the American system and champion the Constitution. However, when President Bush was elected, funding for abortion increased, government expansion went through the roof, and the homosexual agenda became more of a force than ever before. Yet, Christian leaders failed to speak out against the compromise. It was not that the liberal threat of the Clinton years was now abated, it was just that Christians who held Clinton accountable turned a blind eye toward George Bush. As a result, Christians lost the moral authority to speak out about things like just warfare, torture as an assault on the image of God, and the ethical importance of habeas corpus.

Click here to read the rest of Elijah’s salient thoughts on the election results.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 6, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 6, 2008 | Permalink

I will be in studio today with Adam McManus from 5:00 to 6:00 CST discussing the electoral college, the key lessons that Christians need to learn after eight years of George Bush, the failed 2008 McCain/Palin ticket, and I will answer the question: “Can there be any silver lining for Christians with an Obama presidency?”

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 5, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 5, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 5, 2008 | Permalink

Republican leaders would be well served to learn that as long as they continue to send left-wing, big government, socialist candidates like John McCain who have a track record for being pro-abortion with exceptions, they will fail to inspire Christians and they will lose elections. On the other hand, where Christians are united under a holy, biblical, and constitutional cause, we can make a big difference.

Last night, the voters in three states stood up against the Hollywood elite and their massive funding machines to take a stand against the destruction of marriage in America. God, in His good providence allowed for a pro-family measure defining marriage between one man and one woman, to pass in Florida, California, and Arizona — all three states where the measure appeared on the ballot.

The measure passed fairly easily in Arizona and Florida, but not so easily in California where the question has been a significant issue before the state Supreme Court. The outcome of the vote has been unclear all night. However, it now appears based on the results from California that Proposition 8 which defines marriage in the state constitution as only between one man and one woman is going to pass. The opponents of this measure in California spent over $32 million trying to defeat this measure. Some of that money came from Hollywood elites such as Steven Spielberg and his wife spending $100,000 of his own money in a matching challenge from Brad Pitt to defeat this measure.

Message to America: The answer is not “elect more Republicans.” The answer is: “Have a Christ-honoring cause and you can rightly hope to have the favor of the Lord.”

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 5, 2008 | Permalink

Barack Obama is certainly the presumptive 44th president of the United States, but he will not become the president-elect until the Electoral College meets on December 15, and the winner is formally announced before Congress in early January, 2009. Our Founding Fathers wisely rejected the notion that the Chief Executive should be selected by popular vote, favoring a method that preserved our federal system. Last night, Senator Obama won both the popular vote and the majority of electors, but those electors must cast their ballots before Obama becomes the president-elect.

God forbid, should Senator Obama die between now and December 15, the electors in the Electoral College would likely split their votes between Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and John McCain. This could very well create a scenario in which the House of Representatives would decide the presidency. According to the Constitution, in the absence of any candidate getting a majority (presently 270 votes) of the necessary electoral votes, the selection of president of the United States would be thrown to Congress where the House of Representatives would be responsible for selecting the next president.

Dr. George Grant put together a helpful book entitled The Importance of the Electoral College that explains in detail the brilliance of this system. Click here to purchase a copy.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 5, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 4, 2008 | Permalink

I am a Christian. I am the servant of Christ and His representative. All loyalty, fealty, and duty is owed to Him above all other relationships and associations. This means that my political loyalty and allegiance is to the Lord Jesus Christ when I walk into the ballot box, when I evaluate the action of political leaders, or when I exercise my God-given duty as an American to hold such leaders accountable for their actions. My principles and my practice are bound by an objective and transcendent standard established by my Master, not by the political objectives of a party.

Though political parties may be useful vehicles for advancing the Crown rights of Christ, they are only vehicles. They are never an end. At the moment that any political party or any representative of a party ceases to honor the Lord Jesus Christ through practice or principle, I must stand in firm and unequivocal opposition to such a party or person, at least in so far as their behavior is offensive to God.

As a Christian I must refuse to apply a hypocritical standard of judgment against the leaders of one party, while refusing to hold another party accountable to the same standard. This means I am never at liberty to minimize or cover the sinful positions of my own partisan friends who profess the One True Faith in order to gain a political advantage. To the contrary, the purity of the Church and the integrity of the Gospel point to the fact that I must be uncompromising in holding those who claim to represent Christ to the very standards that Christ has established.

When I step into the ballot box I am there representing the Lord Jesus. This means that I am bound by the standards He has established in His Word for the selection of leaders, and am not to be motivated and directed by my own private opinions or fears. I stand alone before God and am personally responsible to Him for the choices I make. I am not responsible for the sinful choices of those who may not be committed to representing the Lord in the ballot box, or who will not be governed by His transcendent standards. I would rather honor the Lord than win an election. I recognize that my obedience will have more to do with God’s blessing on this nation, regardless of an election outcome, than my man-centered efforts at political victory. Ultimately, however, I believe in victory. I do so because I serve the God who not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills, but who will vanquish his opponents in His time and in His way. As Christ’s servant standing before the political parties of America, I am content to know this, to trust Him and to be faithful.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 4, 2008 | Permalink

1. God is still on the throne.

2. The Scriptures are still the only rule of action for Christians.

3. The duty of believers at the ballot box is the same today as it has always been. We may only select leaders who meet the Scriptural requirements for civil magistrate. Leaders need not be perfect, but they must be qualified.

4. The obedient response of the elect of God to the Lord Jesus Christ and His law-word, not partisan politics or the results of presidential elections, is the key to national blessing.

5. The results of the presidential election, regardless of who wins, will work together for the good of the elect of God.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 4, 2008 | Permalink

For the better part of two decades it has been a wonderful ritual at the Phillips family for Beall and me to go to the polls together and cast our individual ballots for President of the United States. Three times Beall and I have had the honor to vote for my father, Howard Phillips, who ran for President of the United States on the Constitution Party. Today, circumstances prevented us from going together to the polls, but Beall made it down there bright and early in the morning and voted for the only pro-life, Scripturally qualified candidate running for President of the United States, Chuck Baldwin.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 4, 2008 | Permalink

Election Day sermons have been preached in America from our very beginning. “As early as 1633 in Massachusetts and 1674 in Connecticut the practice of preaching election sermons arose. These were delivered before the governor and assembly, (and in meetinghouses in local towns), year by year. Frequently these sermons were printed at government expense and distributed among the town, and the themes discussed were rediscussed in the pulpits throughout New England.”- William W. Sweet, The Story of Religion in America, pg. 177

Click here to read Pastor Joe Morecraft’s wonderful election sermon preached last Sunday.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 4, 2008 | Permalink

“Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation , to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” — John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay

“Rulers are appointed for this very end - to be ministers of God for good. The people have a right to expect this from them and to require it, not as an act of grace, but as their reasonable due. It is the express of implicit condition upon which they were chosen and continued in public office, that they attend continually upon this very thing. Their time, their abilities, their authority—by their acceptance of the public trust—are consecrated to the community, and cannot in justice be withheld...In justice to the people, and in faithfulness to God, they must either sustain it with fidelity, or resign the office.” — Samuel Cooke, A.M. of Cambridge, Mass, Election Sermon 1770

“This is the sole end for which God has ordained that magistrates should be appointed — that they may carry on his benevolent purposes in promoting the good and happiness of human society; and hence their power is said to be from God; that is, it is so while they employ it according to his will. But when they act against the good of society, they cannot be said to act by authority from God, any more than a servant can be said to act by his master’s authority while he acts directly contrary to his will.” — Beza (Calvin’s student)

“It is not easy to determine who are the more criminal. They who would make their way to places of power and trust by indirect means, or they who have so little concern for the welfare of their country as to harken to them.” — Jonathan Mayhew D.D. of Boston 1754

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual — or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” — Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, 1781

“Civil magistrates must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” — Election Sermon of Charles Chauncey, 1747

“Look well to the characters and qualifications of those you elect and raise to office and places of trust.” — Matthias Burnett, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Norwalk, An Election Sermon, Preached at Hartford, on the Day of the Anniversary Election, May 12, 1803

“In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate — look to his character.” — Noah Webster, Letters to a Young Gentleman Commencing His Education to Which is Subjoined a Brief History of the United States (New Haven: S. Converse, 1823), p. 18.

“When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, “just men who will rule in the fear of God.” The preservation of government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be sqandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.” — Noah Webster, History of the United States (New Haven: Durrie & Peck, 1832), pp. 336-337, 49.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 4, 2008 | Permalink

Both Barack Obama and John McCain have supported the murder of innocent children in the womb. Both have funded Planned Parenthood. Both support some forms of baby executions. They may differ in degrees, but they both have conceded the principle that some children may be killed in the womb. Both support the killing of children through scientific experimentation involved in fetal stem cell research. Both claim they will not make abortion a litmus test in the selection of Supreme Court justices, and John McCain has actually voted for pro-abortion justices. Neither candidate is pro-life. Pretty speeches aside, both are pro-abortion in certain cases, with exceptions. They differ in degrees, but not the fundamental principle. Those are the irrefutable facts.

Do these facts trouble you? Check them out for yourself. Also, Wesley Strackbein and Bob Renaud respond to significant misinformation from within the Christian community in their new article. Also, see our Sanctity of Life Voter Guide and article “setting the record straight” for more information on the pro-abortion track record and positions of both the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 4, 2008 | Permalink

The following is an excerpt from an brief commentary on 2 Corinthians 10:5 written by Michael Billings, two years before his homecoming into Glory:

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

It is of vital importance that if we are going to cast down every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, said Paul; then we must bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. An ultimate commitment to Christ covers the entire range of human activity, including every aspect of our intellectual endeavor. To reason in a way that does not recognize this is to transgress the first and great commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with... all your mind.” We, as Christians, must reason in such a way that Christ and His Standard “might have preeminence” (Col 1:18). If God did indeed create heaven and earth and all things therein, then nothing can have meaning or interpretation apart from God. Inasmuch as all things came into being by His eternal decree, so thus also all things must only have meaning in terms of His eternal decrees. Nothing can have meaning in and of itself, because nothing exists in and of itself. Every fact is a God created fact and therefore, for us to have a valid interpretation of any fact, we must first go to the Author of that fact for the true definition. As R. J. Rushdoony states, “If we are to have coherence in our experience, there must be a correspondence with our experience to the eternally coherent experience of God.” It is not possible for man to have true knowledge about anything apart from the God of Scripture. We must remember that, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Prv.1: 7). Those who have no fear of the Lord are completely incapable of true knowledge. Greg Bahnsen put it this way, “From beginning to end, man’s reasoning about anything whatsoever (even reasoning about reasoning itself) is unintelligible or incoherent unless the Truth of the Christian Scriptures is presupposed.” Sin has permeated and completely vitiated the human personality, his intellect and logic, as well as his will, rendering him incapable of any neutral intellectual common ground. It is for this reason, as Van Til states, that “men must totally depend on the Scriptures altogether for their interpretation of reality.” When men trust in any other standard apart from Christ’s Word, they become “vain in their reasoning... Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Rom1: 21,22).

Everyone has a standard that they deem as infallible and ultimate that is used in their intellectual organization of “truths”, which determines their interpretation of reality. Every man is forced to believe either that there are self-contained facts, or that there is a self-contained Creator. Absolutely no thought is neutral. It will either stand at enmity with God, or it will be working to establish His kingdom. There is no middle ground. When the men of this age declare, self-consciously or subconsciously, that man is autonomously independent, or his own god in any area of life, exalting his own finite knowledge above the infinite knowledge of the Most High; we cannot suffer to do any less that that which the Potter has commanded: We must expose the foolishness of the fool, we must “ridicule the ridiculous”, by proclaiming the Lord’s sovereignty over all the affairs of men, the Creator/creature distinction, the ontological Trinity as the ground for all secondary being and reasoning, the self-attesting authority of Scripture, the impossibility of neutrality, and the illegitimate ethical and moral dualism presented by the natural law theory. We must answer these men according to their man-centered foolishness, and by God’s grace, as Calvin said, “stop his obstreperous mouth” with the only authoritative Standard. Greg Bahnsen stated in a commentary on this verse, that, “We must challenge the unbeliever to give a cogent and credible account of how he knows anything whatsoever, given his espoused presupposition about reality, truth, and man.” And once we have cleared the beach of all it’s man centered debris; we must seek to establish in it’s place as our first presupposition the complete self-consciousness of God, and the consequent sole legitimacy of analogical and derivative reasoning on the part of man, because “you can’t beat something with nothing...”

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 3, 2008 | Permalink

Now available as an exciting downloadable audio book at behemoth.com.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 3, 2008 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 3, 2008 | Permalink

From the Telegraph:

It may have taken nearly 300 years but archaeologists have finally confirmed the campsite of castaway Alexander Selkirk, thought to be the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe. Cast away on a desert island, surviving on what nature alone can provide, praying for rescue but at the same time fearing the sight of a boat on the horizon.

These are the imaginative creations of Daniel Defoe in his famous novel Robinson Crusoe.

But the story is believed to be based on the real-life experience of Scottish sailor Selkirk, marooned in 1704 on a small tropical island in the Pacific for more than four years, and now archaeological evidence has been found to support his existence on the island.

An article in the journal Post-Medieval Archaeology claims that an archaeological dig on the Argentinian island of Aguas Buenas, 470 miles off the Chilean coast, reveals evidence of the campsite of an early European occupant.

The most compelling evidence is the discovery of a fragment of a pair of navigational dividers which could only have belonged to a ship’s master or navigator, which historical evidence suggests Selkirk must have been.

In Selkirk’s rescuer, Captain Woodes Rogers’ account of what he saw on arrival at Aguas Buenas in 1709 lists “some practical pieces” and mathematical instruments amongst the few possessions that Selkirk had taken with him from the ship.

Dr David Caldwell, National Museums Scotland, who helped lead the dig, said the find finally confirmed the whereabouts of the castaway camp.

“The evidence uncovered at Aguas Buenas corroborates the stories of Alexander Selkirk’s stay on the island and provides a fascinating insight into his existence there.,” he said.

“I am satisfied in my mind that this is the place where Selkirk set up his camp. I never thought we had a chance of finding it but the discovery of the divider was crucial.”

The finds also provide an insight into exactly how Selkirk might have lived on the island.

Postholes suggest he built two shelters near to a freshwater stream, and had access to a viewpoint over the harbour from where he would be able to watch for approaching ships and ascertain whether they were friend or foe.

Accounts written shortly after his rescue describe him shooting goats with a gun rescued from the ship, and eventually learning to outrun them, eating their meat and using their skins as clothing.

He also passed time reading the Bible and singing psalms, and seems to have enjoyed a more peaceful and devout existence than at any other time in his life.

Click here to read the rest of the story

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 3, 2008 | Permalink

CNN has this fascinating report today:

JERUSALEM (CNN) — An Israeli archaeologist has discovered what he says is the earliest-known Hebrew text, found on a shard of pottery that dates to the time of King David from the Old Testament, about 3,000 years ago. Professor Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem says the inscribed pottery shard — known as an ostracon — was found during excavations of a fortress from the 10th century BC.

Carbon dating of the ostracon, along with pottery analysis, dates the inscription to time of King David, about a millennium earlier than the famous Dead Sea Scrolls, the university said.

The shard contains five lines of text divided by black lines and measures 15 by 15 centimeters, or about 6 inches square.

Archaeologists have yet to decipher the text, but initial interpretation indicates it formed part of a letter and contains the roots of the words “judge,” “slave,” and “king,” according to the university. That may indicate it was a legal text, which archaeologists say would provide insights into Hebrew law, society, and beliefs.

The researchers say the text was clearly written by a trained scribe.

The shard was discovered at the Elah Fortress in Khirbet Qeiyafa, about 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem. The fortress, measuring 2.3 hectares (about 5.7 acres), is the earliest-known fortified city of the biblical period in Israel.

Excavations began there in June. So far, just four percent of the site has been excavated, the university said.

Because the ostracon is similar to that found in other Israelite settlements, and because no pig bones were found at the site, archaeologists say the site was likely part of the Kingdom of Judea. Jewish dietary laws forbid the eating of pork.

Among the artifacts found at the site are more than 100 jar handles bearing distinct impressions which may indicate a link to royal vessels, the university said. Such a large quantity found in such a small area is “unprecedented,” the university said.

The site of Khirbet Qeiyafa is located near the place where the Bible describes the battle between David and Goliath — the Elah Valley, which shares its name with the fortress.

Garfinkel said it is the only site in Israel in which to investigate King David.

“The chronology and geography of Khirbet Qeiyafa create a unique meeting point between the mythology, history, historiography and archaeology of King David,” he said.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are the earliest-known copies of the Bible, some dating back about 2,000 years.

Click here to read the rest of the story

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 1, 2008 | Permalink