November 2009 Archives

Here’s a note we received from a family who attended the Tampa premiere of The Mysterious Islands:

Dear Bro. Phillips and the Vision Forum Family,

When we got the news last week, our grandchildren were brimming with excitement at the opportunity to attend the premiere of the “Mysterious Islands” feature film. Calendars were marked, schedules were checked, and days were counted down!

The actual film exceeded our expectations in quality and especially content. And the fellowship with other like-hearted believers was, once again, precious. In spite of a couple of “glitches”, the evening was well worth the effort to make the trip and time investment.

We bought a DVD to share with family and friends right away and plan to buy more as gifts. What a blessing to have a quality production in which the major theme was one of excellence: all Creation shouts the glory of God! And the sub-theme was touching as well as instructive: visionary fathers honored by faithful sons.

Thank God, you have pressed forward with a vision, and God has used it, once again, to bless and encourage our family and thousands of others. May He continue to use you and your family in this vital work.

In Christ, D. and F. F. Alturas, Florida

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 20, 2009 | Permalink

We stopped counting the number of attendees after 2500, but estimate that there may have been more than three thousand in attendance.

Faith and Pro help me at the table.

Dr. John Morris was a favorite of the crowds.

A very dear family that came out for the film.

We gave away just under a thousand posters.

Visiting with our director—Mr. Andy Erwin.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 19, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 19, 2009 | Permalink

After being given preliminary approval for a screening of The Mysterious Islands film, officials at the United States Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have rejected the film which is critical of Charles Darwin, as being too controversial.

A representative for Vision Forum Ministries had been given a preliminary go-ahead by event coordinators for the Space Center, but was later informed that The Mysterious Islands would be blocked from appearing at the theater after officials looked at the website and deemed the film too controversial.

The theater of the Davidson Center Auditorium at the United States Space and Rocket Center is a government-run agency and taxpayer-subsidized venue which is open to the general public for private rentals and screenings. According to federal law, it is not supposed to discriminate on the basis of religion.

Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

As I write this note, the Galapagos Ark with The Mysterious Islands Road Tour is pulling into Tampa, Florida. Thanks to the magnificent organizational machine of the Pat Walsh family, more than 2000 people have pre-registered to watch The Mysterious Islands tonight on seven theater screens at the Tampa IMAX. Another five hundred to one thousand are expected to come as walk-ins. The Tampa Premiere is promising to be the most spectacular of The Mysterious Island events to date in the United States. We hope to see all of our local Floridian friends.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

This Sunday, the Coral Ridge Hour will feature segments from The Mysterious Islands, along with an interview with me on discussing evolution within the context of Charles Darwin’s voyage to the Galapagos Islands.

It was a pleasure to join Jerry Newcombe and the Coral Ridge crew on set several weeks ago in preparation for this program. Dr. D. James Kennedy was a champion of six-day creationism during his lifetime, and we are grateful that his ministry continues to combat evolution and defend the biblical account of origins so passionately.

To check local listings for the Coral Ridge Hour, click here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

Pro with the first crop of pine cones.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 18, 2009 | Permalink

The Galapagos Ark rolled into Wakeforest, North Carolina, and made a stop at the headquarters of the National Center for Family Integrated Churches.

Mommy and Virginia in the Galapagos Ark.

This amazing image is of the office bookshelf of Peter Bradrick, one of the key players in The Mysterious Islands. Peter’s office is located in the National Center for Family Integrated Church headquarters in Wakeforest. Yes, that is a real tarantula—-Nimrod. Peter pays the children at church to hunt down lizards for his pet to eat.

David Brown in his office at the NCFIC, in front of an image of him and his fiance, Monica.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 17, 2009 | Permalink

Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 17, 2009 | Permalink

We are on our way to the North Carolina premiere of The Mysterious Islands. Our vessel is the “Galapagos Ark”— a 41-foot behemoth of a bus loaned to Vision Forum Ministries for the Mysterious Islands Road Tour. Our first stop was dinner at the home of Jay and Kay Valenti in Mandeville, Louisiana.

Virginia makes it through the first night of her life in a big bus.

Mommy and Virginia.

Our driver is good friend, Mr. Tom Keen.

It is especially great to have a pro on board when navigating the Galapagos Ark in a neighborhood.

Jay greets Joshua and Tom.

The Phillips boys got a special hello from Jay’s mom, Mrs. Valenti.

The team assembles in the lush Valenti backyard.

Smile!

The children take a trampoline break.

Dr. Tom Ford of The Mysterious Islands team, with his daughter Hannah and Jubilee.

Molly and Faith.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 16, 2009 | Permalink

Fitzroy’s Valor Musical Track from Vision Forum on Vimeo.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 16, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 16, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 14, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 14, 2009 | Permalink

Steve Solid, his son Silas, as well as Dr. Tom Ford, joined us for The Mysterious Islands adventure to the Galapagos. Also pictured above are their families.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 14, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 14, 2009 | Permalink

Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 13, 2009 | Permalink

Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 13, 2009 | Permalink

Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 13, 2009 | Permalink

Just before the opening night premiere of The Mysterious Islands in San Antonio, the producers, directors, and lead characters in the film got together for a brief photo shoot.

Above are Andy Erwin, Jon Erwin, Doug Phillips, Joshua Phillips, and Dr. John Morris.

Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 13, 2009 | Permalink

Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 12, 2009 | Permalink

Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 12, 2009 | Permalink

Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 12, 2009 | Permalink

Reserve your seats today at www.themysteriousislands.com/tampaimax.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 11, 2009 | Permalink

In my book, The Little Boy Down the Road, there is a chapter entitled “The Animal Fair” which details our life with dozens of dogs, hundreds of hamsters, a killer goose, rebellious goats, evil llamas, aged horses, and sundry other animals including arachnids and birds. But here are a few small thoughts I failed to mention about cats.

There are several important things to remember about these felines. First, it is important to keep in mind that cats are not clean, they are just covered with cat spit.

A cat is a walking heart attack. Its heart beats twice as fast as a human—at about 240 beats per minute. But rumor has it that if your children attempt to dress the cat up in a gown and pretend to baptize it in the tub, you can double that heart beat.

Finally, I just want to express my personal gratitude to our cats for allowing us to live in their home.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 11, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 9, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 9, 2009 | Permalink

Joel Belz is stellar as master of ceremonies at the inaugural event.

Families gather in the halls of the J.W. Marriot in between sessions.

Learn it! Speak it! Live it!

Some of our winners! More reports to follow.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 7, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 7, 2009 | Permalink

Vision Forum Ministries’ new film, The Mysterious Islands, not only takes you under the water, on volcanic craters, and across lizard laden fields of black lava rocks, but it shows you the multi-generational legacy of skepticism and evolutionism in the Darwin family and its spiritual progeny.

Darwin is often presented as a reasonable observer and adherent to biblical Christianity who was just in search of answers. The truth is that from his early days, Darwin was influenced by family members who had utter contempt for the Bible.

From grandfather Erasmus Darwin, Charles was taught that the world was millions of years old and that the scientific teachings of the Bible were absurd.

Erasmus Darwin even gave the Darwin family a new motto: E Conchis Omnia—Everything from Shells!

Young Charles learned to be excited about discovery, but the religious skeptics in his family modelled an approach to scientific investigation which was at war with the God of Scriptures.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 6, 2009 | Permalink

Today is the two-year anniversary of the home-going of my dear friend and son in the Lord Michael Billings. Two years ago today, the Lord chose to take Michael into eternity, but his testimony has become as that of Abel’s. Even now, two 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 bluebehemoth.com.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 4, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 4, 2009 | Permalink

“A Wise Son Maketh a Glad Father.”

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 4, 2009 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 3, 2009 | Permalink

Photography: Shooting the Galapagos from Vision Forum on Vimeo.

Visit The Mysterious Islands website to learn more. And visit our site on Facebook.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 2, 2009 | Permalink

Captain Robert Fitzroy brought Charles Darwin with him as a companion on the famous voyage of the R.M.S. Beagle. But later Fitzroy deeply regretted the decision. A defender of the Genesis account of origins, Fitzroy publicly opposed Darwin’s Theory. In many respects Fitzroy was a better naturalist than Darwin. Unlike Darwin, he properly labelled and identified the specimens he collected. In later years Fitzroy wrote an extensive treatise defending the Biblical account of earth history, and he formally confronted Thomas Huxley during the most famous debate of the 19th century when he addressed the audience and urged them to believe God’s Word over the vain speculations of man.

Now you could own Captain Fitzroy’s sword that he carried on the voyage of the HMS Beagle. Here is the auction notice that was sent out via an email that includes some historical background on the sword and Fitzroy:

TO BE AUCTIONED

2nd December 2009

Bosleys Military Auctioneers & Valuers

Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 2BS

01628 488188

Website www.bosleys.co.uk

A fine and interesting presentation sword, presented by Lord Hardinge, Governor-General of India, to Admiral Robert Fitzroy, Captain of the ‘Beagle’ on Charles Darwin’s legendary voyage of discovery.

The 80cm wide flat solid blade perhaps imitating an Indian tulwar blade with the proof mark of Henry Wilkinson of London struck under the langet, the blade is un-numbered and undecorated except for the short presentation inscription ‘Robert Fitz Roy from Lord Hardinge’, etched within an ornate eastern style cartouche; on the reverse side of the blade a similar cartouche is filled with a long inscription in Persian incorporating the date 1847, the cartouche and inscription in heavy gold overlay, the hilt of Indian make of mameluke style and although now lightly patinated would appear to be of watered steel, with the typical open panels which would display this, the hilt is decorated with fine quality intricate gold koftghari floral borders, the quillons with sprays of flowers, no provision for a sword knot, contained in its fine quality black leather scabbard with three large copper gilt mounts, the top locket with opposing hanging rings, the centre mount with a single ring, and bottom chape, all of which are covered with deeply chased sprays of acorns and oak leaves, the bottom chape additionally chased with a seashell and intwined dolphins, the locket back with applied embossed shield with makers details ‘Henry Wilkinson gun & sword maker Pall Mall London’, minor staining to blade, a little wear to highlights of gold koftghari, some wear to gilding of scabbard mounts and scabbard stitching fragile, but overall in good condition.

Footnote

The Persian inscription on this blade is dated 1264 in the Hijra calendar, which equates to 1847 in the Christian calendar; it is also dated using the arabic numbers for 1847, a most unusual practice. The Persian inscription literally translates as follows:

‘The blade of this sword will shine if it is used for the right cause. With the wrong cause, it will rust and the rust will become its scabbard’.

Posted by Doug Phillips on November 2, 2009 | Permalink