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. 2:2)

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 most important sermons I heard this year?
3. What books/articles did I write?
4. What significant household projects did we accomplish in 2011?
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 2011?
17. What commitments have I made to overcome sin in 2011?
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 2010 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 2011.

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.” [i]

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 2011. 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 2012 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 2011 comes to a close, take time to remember and to say “thank you.” Take time to examine yourself for bitterness. Forgive others. Finally, as you love God with all your heart, soul and might, trust Him, too. Really trust him. Trust God with all your heart, your soul and might. You and I can not solve every problem. What we can do is be kind, forgiving, and patient before the Lord. We can not “fix” everything that is broken. Only God can do that. In His time and His way, the Lord can not only bring peace, but He can give you the very desires of your heart as you seek Him with integrity. He can redeem the years the locusts have eaten, and He delights in blessing his faithful children. “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).

It is appropriate that we stop and thank God at 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 life 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 2012, the year 2011 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 refusing to forgive? Trust the Lord. He is in charge: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all y our ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5).

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 30, 2011 | Permalink

On behalf of the families of Vision Forum Ministries, i want to personally thank all of you who have been such an encouragement to us with your notes, your prayers and your end of the year support.

With Love and Gratitude, Doug for the Phillips Family and Whole Staff

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 29, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 28, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 28, 2011 | Permalink

2011 is coming to a close, and year-end inventory taxes are looming. This means that we need to reduce our overstock inventory as much as possible by December 31.

That’s good news for you!

Through December 31, save 30-70% off Web list prices on more than 225 family products as you help us liquidate our overstock inventory. Choose from customer-favorite books, toys, movies, CDs, and many more resources that encourage and strengthen the Christian home.

View the inventory.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 27, 2011 | Permalink

As always, the toys from you guys are top notch. My son loves all the things he got from your catalog!! Laura B.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 27, 2011 | Permalink

The Phillips family is joined by our good friends including South American missionary, Paco Loas, on the San Antonio River Walk

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 27, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 27, 2011 | Permalink

Virginia offers Daddy a helping hand with this Phillips family tradition—Fried Matzoh.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 27, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 27, 2011 | Permalink

A cold, but happy day for Joshua and Beall on assignment for Vision Forum Ministries. Stay tuned in January for some special announcements.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 27, 2011 | Permalink

The Christian Boys’ and Men’s Titanic Society and Vision Forum Ministries is pleased to announce that In 2012, on the anniversary of the day that “manhood perished not,” more than 700 Christian men, women and children will gather for a 2-3 day experience dedicated to the perpetuation of the doctrine of “women and children first” —an event complete with plays, movies, music of the era, dynamic messages, vintage clothing, mysteries and more. Come as you are, or come in vintage Titanic era clothing. Join us on our own floating “steamship” for our grand banquet event to occur exactly 100 years to the date and hours of the final night of the R.M.S. Titanic. Act quickly to reserve your spot with the Titanic 100: The International Centennial Event to be held in one of America’s most popular vacation spots, Branson, Missouri, April 13-15, 2012.

More Details Coming. Very Limited Spacing. Registration Open.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 26, 2011 | Permalink

Pearl Harbor 70th: A Hair-raising Escape from the USS Oklahoma from Vision Forum on Vimeo.

The USS Oklahoma — among the pride of use the US battleship force — was dealt a devastating blow when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, taking five torpedo hits. Within twelve minutes of the raid, the ship capsized, leading to the death of 429 servicemen, second only to the losses of the Arizona. Roy Carter, on board the Oklahoma when it was struck, tells his hair-raising story of escape, as he swam from the ship covered with oil from head to toe. After the Pearl Harbor attack, Carter signed up for flight school and flew 39 missions in Europe as a B-24 bomber.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 22, 2011 | Permalink

Dear Friends:

My wife returned earlier this week from Orlando on a very special visit to say goodbye to her friend Denise Sproul.

It was a hard trip—hard because of the great perception of finality.

It was a great trip—-great because it was a gift.

It does not happen often, but a few times in the course of our lives, God gives us the gift of holy closure with a beloved friend who is about to depart the earth. God gave that gift to Beall, and she will always be grateful.

This morning we received news that Denise had passed into eternity and was in the presence of her Creator and Savior. Perhaps you received the same news.

Denise leaves behind eight precious children and a very special husband—-one of my best friends in the work of the Lord.

R.C. and I are the same age, have the same number of children, are both the sons of famous fathers, and share similar passions in the work of the Gospel. My love for him makes it very hard not to take personally his pain, his experiences, his joys and the realities which are before him. But it motivates me to remind everyone I know of the preciousness of the families and friends God has given to each of us.

And this is what I feel compelled to say: Tonight, stop and take a really good look at your spouse. Next, look at each of your children. Look really, really long and hard. Take a moment and thank God for every whisper of a moment that God has given you with them. Thank God for the little kisses offered, the stories told, the tickles dispensed, the games played, the readings shared, the silent moments cherished, the victories experienced, the losses endured, the kind words presented , the songs sung, the glances exchanged. These moments not only count for eternity, but they will be remembered for the next billion years after you leave this minuscule moment in time called “life.” Every moment with your loved one matters. Someday they or you will be gone. Every conversation matters. Every kind deed in the name of Christ matters. It all matters.

The beautiful, wonderful life of Denise Sproul has ended. Oh yes, it was a beautiful life. Here was a woman—a mother who embraced life, and a wife who stood by her man through thick and thin. She did all of this with a precious vulnerability—-a transparency and grace which was singular.

Her record as an impeccably faithful wife, mother, friend and child of God is complete. It is the kind of a record that personifies the woman of virtue—a record that would be a credit to any woman of substance. For the rest of their lives her husband and children can drink deeply from the memory and continuing legacy of Denise.

The life story of this beautiful woman Denise Sproul may have concluded, but her story continues. She has graduated from her frail, mortal husk, and will someday be given a perfect body. At this very moment she is experiencing the bliss of an existence which is free from pain, and full of joy. Now she waits the resurrection of the dead and the reunion of her dear R.C., children and loved ones in Christ. For those of us left behind—that uncertain period of time is deceptively long. But I am persuaded that those who are in the presence of God, now perfected, free from sin, and beyond this temporal reality, see more clearly than we the true brevity of life and the preciousness of the window of life given to us by God.

So tonight remember eight children who have kissed their mother for the last time. Remember Darby (18), Campbell (16), Delaney (13), Donavan (2) Shannon (14), Erin Claire (11), Maili (9), Reilly Justus (6).

Remember my passionate and poetic friend, R.C. This morning he awoke to a new moniker—-widower and single father.

And let the life and holy passing of faithful wife and mother Denise Sproul inspire you to love your God more, and to fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run beside those you love the most in this world.

Persevero, Doug Phillips

One last thing: Years ago my father exhorted me to make every effort to attend the weddings and funerals of close friends. These moments are meant for solidarity, clarity, honor, unity. holiness, and hope. If you have been blessed by the Sproul family make sure to say so. If you are a friend, find a way to get to the funeral services this Wednesday.

Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 18, 2011 | Permalink

Pearl Harbor 70th: The Youngest Survivor, Now a Devout Christian, Was In His Mothers Arms When Japanese Shot Her from Vision Forum on Vimeo.

This is simply beautiful. It is the story of a man who believes that he was saved by the mercy of Jesus Christ when as a two and a half year old, he was witness to the attack on Pearl Harbor from the vantage point of his mothers arms. When she was strafed by the Japanese Zeros, both he and she survived. Listen to him describe the dreams he had for close to sixty years.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 18, 2011 | Permalink

By Doug Phillips, President, Vision Forum Ministries

He was probably the most famous anti-Christian of the last decade — a man who made his living scoffing at God and encouraging others to do the same. But now *Vanity Fair* writer and author of God Is Not Great, Christopher Hitchens, is dead at the age of 62. He will be remembered by most for his sarcasm, biting wit, and “indefatigable energy and venomous glee” in the cause of atheism and various contrarian agendas.”

Of his death, the world’s leading evolutionist, Richard Dawkins, author of *The God Delusion*, tweeted today: “Christopher Hitchens, finest orator of our time, fellow horseman, valiant fighter against all tyrants including God.”

But how should Christians respond to the life and death of one of our most capable public adversaries?

1. We should remember that despite the perception many had of his brilliance in the cause of atheism, Hitchens never escaped the reality of the knowledge of the existence of God.

In the death of Hitchens we see the horror of the sin of pride in the face of God’s authority and man’s mortality.

When God created the world, He created it very good.^[1] There was neither suffering, nor death. All this changed when man — created in the image of God and the very pinnacle of creation — broke the law of God and plunged himself, his progeny, and the world itself into a state of death.^[2] In His mercy, God not only sent an eternal solution to the problem of death,^[3] but He created man and the universe such that each of his billions of human creations over the span of history would have the clear and unequivocal witness of God upon their conscience such that they were without excuse.^[4]

Hitchens’ own battle with cancer was a reminder of this inescapable witness. It was also a reminder of the authority of God over man. It was a call to humility. Certainly Hitchens had opportunities to be humble — family members and adversaries appealed to him in the name of Christ, but his response was to be resolute in his autonomy and mockery of Christ. As his body was decaying and death was looming over the horizon, he continued to reject the God who made him and to publicly minimize the prayers offered on his behalf by others.

The spiritual lostness of Christopher Hitchens was not for want of evidence or logical argument — he had all the evidence and witness and logic in the universe available to him. It was staring him in the eyes, but he irrationally loved his decaying mind and body, more than the witness of the eternal God.

2. We should observe that despite his brilliance, Hitchens was what the Bible describes as a fool.

When I describe Christopher Hitchens as a “fool” I am not mocking or ridiculing him. I am using the very precise and inescapable language of Scripture which declares that” “the fool has said in his heart there is no God.”^[5] Only fools deny what is clear because it has been revealed in creation, in their hearts, and in the testimony of Scripture. Fools can be brilliant. They can have numerous degrees and diplomas. But all who say in their heart — “there is no God” are fools. Which is why December 15, 2011 marks the death of one of the most outspoken and notorious “fools” of our lifetime.

3. We should note that despite his contrarian perspective, Hitchens was obsessed with God.

Like all outspoken atheists, Hitchens was a man obsessed with God. Over the course of his life he wrote numerous articles, books, engaged in debates, and conducted many interviews — a goal of which was to warn people to see religion as a dangerous blight on humanity, and to free themselves from the “mythology” of Christianity. Hitchens spent most of his life talking about God, ridiculing God, and making his income by selling hatred for God through his unique, acerbic wit and acrimonious repartee. All the way to the end, a primary subject of his discussion in interviews was God. He spent his life thinking about a Creator he told others did not exist.

4. We should acknowledge that Hitchens spent his life building on the borrowed capital of Christianity.

Christopher Hitchens, like all skeptics and scoffers, lived, operated and survived in our Father’s world. And while he suppressed the truth of God in unrighteousness,^[6] he often played by rules and conventions which only make sense in a Christian universe.

Hitchens was a married man. There is no rule of evolution, no principle of atheism which logically leads one to embrace the convention of marriage. Marriage is a divinely ordered creation institution.^[7] And yet Hitchens married — twice. Not only did he marry, but he shocked the world by declaring that men should provide for their wives who should be able to stay out of the workforce and live at home with children because they were “the gentler sex.”

Hitchens was a wordsmith who built his life around language and logic — both of which only make sense in a universe created by the God of the Bible. Language as a means of communication designed by God is one reflection of the way in which man is created in the very image of God. It is a reflection of the word-based nature of our faith and a foundation for understanding truth. Atheists like Hitchens and the scoffers on Mars Hill found in Acts 17 are obsessed with words and with logic, even as they fail to acknowledge that the very laws of logic are only meaningful and transcendent if they are universals, a reality which can only be presumed in a world designed by the Christian God of the Bible.

5. We should be clear that the death of Hitchens is not a time for Christians to rejoice or ridicule. It is a time for sorrow, compassion, sobriety, and greater resolution.

The death of Hitchens is not a time for rejoicing, or joking, or chest-puffing by Christians who for years were the object of Mr. Hitchens’ unique brand of vicious sarcasm. Whatever disagreements advocates for Christ have with Mr. Hitchens, those differences have all been resolved, though with a tragic result. To the best of our knowledge Hitchens remained a scoffer and God-hater to his last breath. This is a loss to all true believers who desire that none should perish.^[8]

When believers pass from this life to the next there is reason for rejoicing, even in the midst of sorrow.^[9] The Bible says that “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”^[10] But when a fool and a scoffer dies, the Christian’s posture must be one of special sobriety and holy fear before the Lord.

Each of us will face our Maker, and when we do, it will not be our choices, our merits, our opinions, or our deeds which will matter as to the question of the state of our eternal soul. All that will matter is whether or not we were saved by the grace of God.

Those who were saved by the finished work of Jesus Christ will not brag. There will be no “I told you so’s” in Heaven. Nor will there be any sense of vindication that we were right and our critics were wrong. Our sole focus will be on the God who saved us and redeemed us and the gratitude and worship which is owed to Him.

And this perspective of humility, gratitude, and worship, I believe, is the correct posture of the Christians on Earth who watch as the enemies of Christ pass from this world into the next, and face the living God.

Christopher Hitchens and the Ultimate Question

At the end of the day, the issues of life can be boiled down into two or three fundamental questions dealing with ultimate authority. Every human must address these questions.

Christopher Hitchens spent his life asking one of those fundamentals, the same question Pilate asked: “What is truth?”

For millennia, this has been the question of philosophers, critics, and yes fools, who insist that this question may only be answered on terms that establish them, and their puny intellects, as the final arbiters of what is right and what is wrong.

It appears that Hitchens never found the answer. If true, that is an eternal loss.

1. Gen 1:31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
2. Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned
3. Rom 5:15-17 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.); Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
4. Rom 1:16-23 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
5. Ps 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.; Ps 53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
6. Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [hold down] the truth in unrighteousness;(see definition of “hold” below:)
NT:2722 κατεχω katechÅ“ hold firm, hold back (from Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament © 1990 by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. All rights reserved.) b) The vb. is more frequently used figuratively: 1) negatively, of those who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1:18), of the power of the law “by which we were held [captive]” (7:6; cf. Gal 3:23; H. Schlier, Rom [HTKNT] ad loc.); ® 4 on 2 Thess 2:6 f.; and 2) positively in the parenetic direction to hold fast “the word” (Luke 8:15; not in par. Mark/Matthew), “the traditions ” (1 Cor 11:2), “the gospel ” (15:2), “that which is good ” (1 Thess 5:21), or the confidence and hope of the confession (Heb 3:6,14 [meaning uncertain]; 10:23). (from Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament © 1990 by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)
7. Gen 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.; Matt 19:5-6 For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
8. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
9. 1 Thess 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
10. Psalm 115:16

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 16, 2011 | Permalink

Pearl Harbor 70th: One of the Most Powerful Accounts You Will Ever Hear from Vision Forum on Vimeo.

Stop whatever you are doing and listen to this eyewitness report of the December 7, 1941, bombing at Pearl Harbor.

Conducted on board the USS Arizona memorial on the 70th anniversary of the attack, for its simplicity, clarity and experience, it is one of the most detailed and compelling of the more than 35 Pearl Harbor veteran interviews we have conducted through the Faith of Our Fathers Project.

Listen to this account of what it was like to look the Japanese Zero pilot who sunk the USS Oklahoma in the eye, and to make a split second decision as to whether you would be shot in the belly or the back by the same pilot when he came back to strafe you. And listen to a powerful account of what it was like to see the United States flag still flapping in the breeze of a sunk vessel with flames and explosions around. Finally, hear one of the rare testimonies we collected of men who were greatly angered to be eye witnesses to Japanese efforts to strafe wounded and Dying Americans struggling for life in the water.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 14, 2011 | Permalink

Bill Potter joined Doug Phillips for an intense week of interviews on behalf of Vision Forum Ministries and The Faith of Our Fathers Project in Pearl Harbor for the 70th Anniversary of the attack.

By Bill Potter
December, 2011

There are few times in my life that I have had the opportunity to meet and speak in depth with men whose lives were providentially spared in deadly encounters with enemies in war. Some of them performed extraordinary deeds in situations in which death and eternity were but a short breath away. At the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Pearl Harbor, which took place on December 7th, 2011, I heard the stories of at least two dozen survivors of that world-changing event and those tales offered solid lessons in biblical manhood. That is not to say that all the men I engaged in conversation were Christians, but through God’s common grace and their subsequent inspiring heroism, I was impressed by the value of their experiences for standing in the day of battle.

They Were Trained and Prepared for Crisis Should it Come

Having joined the pre-war United States Navy, the sailors at Pearl Harbor had been drilled for instant response when called to general quarters. Although trained in peace-time, they were preparing for war which many believed was inevitable. As Christian men we are to spend our youth in preparation for significant Kingdom work—doing our best to learn the lessons of our instructors, practicing righteousness from an early age. We know war is coming; in fact we are born into a war-torn world with the forces of spiritual darkness who seek our soul. Every sailor and soldier at Pearl Harbor knew his duty station when the time came to fight. They were caught by surprise and many were lost, but every man I talked with went immediately to his duty station exactly as he had been trained.

They Were Compelled to Action By a Profound Sense of Duty

When the Japanese pilots of the bombers, torpedo planes and fighters descended from the sky, unexpected and with total destruction of the American fleet in their hearts, it took the men on the ships and the ground but a few moments to realize that it was no drill. Their faithfulness to duty was automatic, and for many, brought death. All the years of training came down to forty minutes of mortal danger. One of the veterans I talked with said that he did not give a thought to what might happen to him—he only wanted to be found at his post when it was over. Is that not what the Christian man is called to do throughout his lifetime?

They Modelled Boldness and Courage in the Face of Overwhelming Odds

“The Bible says that “the righteous are bold as a lion.” In the case of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese actions were wrongful and the Americans could boldly claim a righteous foundation for their defense against the invaders. This leads to another lesson of biblical manhood that came through loud and clear from the veterans of Pearl Harbor—-their total disregard for the odds facing them. The enemy had the advantage of surprise and multiple weapons, as well as confidence and exemplary courage. One army veteran told me he grabbed a rifle from the weapons locker and stood on the airfield shooting while the Japanese fighters strafed the men and machines on the ground with machine gun fire. A man of fortitude and courage looks to his weapon and fights regardless of the numbers or weight of weaponry arrayed against him. One sailor from the USS Pennsylvania told me his job was to hoist the signal flags, exposed to enemy fire. He had no weapon with which to fight back and concentrated on his only calling, which was to signal accurately and take whatever punishment the fighter planes could dish out. Winston Churchill once said that one of the most thrilling experiences in life was to be shot at without effect, which was confirmed to me by the signalman first class.

They Demonstrated That “Common Men” Can Prove to Be Uncommon Leaders In Times of Crisis

The men of Pearl Harbor also furnish us with lessons of leadership. One of the most inspiring to me came not from an interview, but from a visit to a gravesite at the United States military cemetery named The Punchbowl. I stood at the grave of Chief Boatswain Edwin Joseph Hill of the USS Nevada. The Nevada was able to start her engines to get under way but she was still tied to the dock. Boatswain Hill, 47 years old and with thirty years of naval service, dove from the deck of the battleship, swam to the dock, loosed the lines holding her back then swam back to the ship and climbed back aboard as she pulled away. The Japanese planes saw their prey escaping and concentrated their fire on the Nevada. The Captain realizing he might be sunk in the channel chose to run the battleship aground. As Boatswain Hill led his line handlers in loosing the anchor, he and forty five others were killed by the bombs that rained down on the ship. Shortly before being struck, he ordered a number of young men to dive behind the gun turret, saving their lives. His name on the grave is etched in the gold leaf of a Medal of Honor recipient. Edwin Hill led by example. He could have ordered the eighteen year old men under his command to do all the hard work; after all, he had earned his pay for thirty years. As a man with authority, and as a man under authority, he taught them that a leader leads. His courage inspired the crew to herculean efforts to fulfill their duty; his quick thinking saved a number of their lives.

In God’s good providence, Pearl Harbor was a temporary setback in what would prove to be a long and bloody war. The few men still living from that day still think about the close calls, as well as the courage and sacrifice of their friends who died. Not all of them see the grace of God in the midst of their memories. Let us not make the same mistake, nor let us forget our liberty so dearly bought by those old warriors.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 14, 2011 | Permalink

This year Vision Forum published two special centennial reproductions of books originally published one hundred years ago following two of the defining events of the 20th century: the sinking of the Titanic and the deadly race to the South Pole. Today marks the one-hundred-year anniversary of Amundsen’s arrival at the South Pole, and to honor this event we are offering our two beautiful hardback reproduction books at 50% off! Through tomorrow night, December 15, save 50% when you purchase our One Hundredth Anniversary Commemorative Book Set featuring The Sinking of the Titanic and The Story of Polar Conquest. It’s an amazing deal for two heirloom books which will educate and inspire the explorers and young historians in your family.

Purchase the books here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 14, 2011 | Permalink

We are in a season of historic anniversaries for great acts of discovery and exploration. Next year marks the anniversary of both the Sinking of the Titanic and the demise of the Scott expedition to the South Pole. This year marks the centennial anniversary of the discovery of Machu Picchu. In a few years we will remember the great story of Shackleton and The Endurance. Today, however, is enormously important in the great history of man’s dominion over the planet. One hundred years ago, Roald Amundson won the race to the South Pole, a story which is documented in our new special commemorative book on Polar exploration.

In 2013, Vision Forum Ministries hopes to lead our own expedition to the South Pole for Christian Fathers and Sons (and maybe whole families) with a distinctively creationist mission that will involve research, adventure and a filmmaking opportunity. Not only are we fascinated by this great frontier which we believe opens a world of opportunities to defend the biblical account of creation, but we continue to believe that this generation and the next, must remain inspired, hopeful and passionate in their desire to represent the Lord all around the world through acts of dominion, discipleship, investigation and discovery. Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, make sure to share the story of Polar exploration with your family today and to get a copy of the important book on the subject we have just published.

“Nineteen men, ninety-seven dogs, four pigs, six carrier pigeons, and one canary.”

From the New York Times

When Roald Amundsen’s ship, the Fram, left Norway on Aug. 9, 1910, it carried, in Amundsen’s words, “nineteen men, ninety-seven dogs, four pigs, six carrier pigeons, and one canary.” The ship was nearly 20 years old, and the expedition leader, Amundsen, was 38. He was already a formidable polar explorer, but this voyage to Antarctica and the South Pole made him one of the greatest explorers who ever lived. Related News

On Dec. 14, a century ago, Amundsen and the four members of his team reached the South Pole. “That day,” he wrote, “was a beautiful one,” and at 3 o’clock in the afternoon they planted the flag of Norway, each man with one hand on the flagpole. Like so many other days on that polar journey, that day was “like a pleasure trip,” as Amundsen later reported. The weather was good, but even better was the planning. The Norwegians were born skiers, excellent dog handlers and skilled navigators. They proceeded across the ice exactly as they had done across the ocean, fixing their location again and again by dead reckoning and with sextants. They also left innumerable cairns and markers to guide them on their return.

In his book, “The South Pole,” Amundsen makes none of this sound heroic. He admired the English for their “pluck and grit,” but what you feel in reading his account is joy and adventure. Even now, Amundsen is too little admired, mainly because his straightforward success was eclipsed by what a member of Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition called the “first-rate tragedy” of Scott’s polar push, which ended in the deaths of Scott and his four-man team.

On Dec. 14, Amundsen was at the pole, writing a letter to Scott wishing him a safe return. Scott was 34 days behind him, on a different route. Scott’s journal for that day reads, “We are just starting our march with no very hopeful outlook.”

Vision Forum Releases Special Centennial Celebration Commemorative Book Set! 48 Hours Only — Buy the Set and Save 50%

This year Vision Forum published two special centennial reproductions of books originally published one hundred years ago following two of the defining events of the 20th century: the sinking of the Titanic and the deadly race to the South Pole. Today marks the one-hundred-year anniversary of Amundsen’s arrival at the South Pole, and to honor this event we are offering our two beautiful hardback reproduction books at 50% off! Through tomorrow night, December 15, save 50% when you purchase our One Hundredth Anniversary Commemorative Book Set featuring The Sinking of the Titanic and The Story of Polar Conquest. It’s an amazing deal for two heirloom books which will educate and inspire the explorers and young historians in your family.

Purchase them now.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 14, 2011 | Permalink

Seven Reasons to Come to the 2012 Father and Daughter Retreat from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

For just under a decade, thousands of fathers and daughters have travelled to one of the most beautiful locations in Georgia for a weekend of encouragement, generational vision and hope between fathers and daughters. Next year the Vision Forum Ministries Father and Daughter Retreat will be on the weekend of March 23-25. We anticipate this event will fill, and places are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Register now.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 13, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

Delton Walling is a vigorous 91 years of age. He fought at Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

In the meantime, please read all the posts below which are being updated throughout the day.

Let;sRemember Pearl harbor, Doug

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

From the podium the speaker called called for the Pearl Harbor survivors to “rise as able.” From their seats and wheelchairs, the patriarchs of freedom rose. Some stood on their own. Others were lifted with the help of family and members of the National Park Service. The kids in the group were a sprightly 89 years of age. Most vets were in their 90’s. At least one was 99..

On December 7, 2011, those who came to memorialize history, were making it. It was the end to an era. The last gathering of its kind in history and the close to the soon to be disband Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

The 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor was noteworthy for its beauty, its power, and the awe of the moment we shared with the aged participants in the battle that changed the world for millions. As is often true in our modern world, there were a few unnecessary elements. Not encouraging was the fact that the event included a pagan incantation to the earth God which launched the event. The absence of an official comment from the President was startling. We all knew that this was a different world from the days that President Ronald Reagan stirred our hearts as he spoke so eloquently to the “boys of Pointe du Hoc” on another great WWII commemoration.

But the spirit of mediocrity and theological confusion began to dissipate as Pearl Harbor survivor Mal Middlesworth rose to the podium to address his fellow comrades and the thousands gathered, and hundreds of thousands watching on television.

He spoke to the heart. To an issue which is the right domain of the heroes who lives and blood gave us the precious history which is our legacy as free men. And when he spoke, you could hear a pin drop.

“Let no author, historian or politician attempt to rewrite the history of what happened here 70 years ago. Let no one disturb the sacred water in the harbor. They hold the watery graves of that date in infamy... You sitting in the audience must be the guardians of our truth.”

Later he would tell a local newspaper:

“There’s only about a half-page in a history book about Pearl Harbor. And half of that half page is a picture of the Arizona,” Middlesworth said. “Our youngsters don’t understand what really happened. They don’t understand that freedom isn’t free.”

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

The press rose to the occasion.

AP journalist Audrey McAvoy opened her article on the 70th anniversary gathering in Pearl Harbor with these poignant words: “In wheelchairs and on walkers, the old veterans came Wednesday to remember the day 70 years ago when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. But FDR’s ‘date that will live in infamy’ is becoming a more distant memory.”

For the 70th Anniversary Commemoration of Pearl Harbor and the final great gathering of warriors who survived the “date that will live in infamy” the national and international press corps came in droves. It was the lead story in local and national papers from St. Louis to London.

They came because they knew that this event was the last of its kind in all of history. It was the final gathering of ancient warriors from a battle that launched the war that defined the modern world.

As of today, more than 5900 media outlets published articles on the Pearl Harbor gathering this week. Signifiant articles were published by USA Today, CNN, The Washington Post, St. Louis Times Dispatch, the UK Guardian, The London Daily Mail, Time, the UK Telegraph and many others.

Pearl Harbor was not the only location to honor the last living veterans of December 7, 1941, date that will live in infamy. Survivors showed up around the nation and at local events. A team reprinting Vision Forum Ministries went to Fredericksburg, Texas where they met, interviewed and honored some of the seven living Pearl Harbor veterans there.

Men came to their city events. A team representing Vision Forum Ministries went to Fredricksburg and interviewed and honored the seven living Pearl Harbor veterans there.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

On December 7, 2011 Pearl Harbor survivor Vernon James Olsen joined his comrades who died on U.S.S. Arizona seventy years ago. Olsen lived a long life in contrast to 1,177 of his shipmates who perished when the Arizona was struck by a Japanese bomber. Olsen died last April in Port Charlotte, Florida, at the age of 91, but requested that his remains be held to be interred on the Arizona on the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His remains were placed inside Turret 4 of the Arizona as part of a special ceremony.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

A survivor of the USS West Virginia, he went on to become the Vice President of the Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Association. He told me: “We are disbanding the association. There are just not enough of us left, and it is too difficult to continue...it is hard, but it has to be this way.”

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

It was amazing to our team that over the course of the week, and just prior to the actual 70th anniversary, there were more internationals visiting Pearl Harbor than Americans. We spoke with several of them. They told us that they owed much to the Americans and came to pay their respects in thanksgiving. My prayer is that Americans would be just as grateful.

We met this delightful team of French speaking American Reenactors from Brussels, Belgium. The gentlemen on the right actually owns a working Sherman tank. They were in Normandy when we shot D Day and the Providence of God. They travelled from Europe just to be part of this historic moment.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

One of the significant things that this vet shared with us was: “You won’t hear a lot of discussion of this, but I watched the Japanese strafe the men who were in the water fighting for their lives...that was wrong...I would;t do such a thing...”

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

Through midnight (CST) tonight, save an extra 25-30% on your entire Vision Forum order!

Just add at least $95 worth of products* to your shopping cart, and your order total will immediately drop by 25% — even on already-discounted products.

Or, increase your 25% instant savings to 30% when you add at least $175 of products* to your shopping cart — again, even on already-discounted products!

Shop now.

*Instant Cashback savings does not apply to the following products: 20-Vol. G.A. Henty Set; 40-Vol. G.A. Henty Set; 70-Volume G.A. Henty Library; all iPods; Girl’s Heather Harp; Ultimate Flyer Sled; Bambino Pull Sled; Mountain Boggan Sled.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 8, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 7, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 7, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 7, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 7, 2011 | Permalink

Join the twitter account and follow Doug Phillips and Bill Potter for the next four days in Pearl Harbor as they remember the 70th anniversary of the”date that will live in infamy” and interview the last living veterans of Pearl Harbor and document the very final gathering of the men of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association which will officially disband following this event.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 7, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 7, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 7, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 6, 2011 | Permalink

This special tribute from the San Antonio Darlings is for the veterans of the Second World War. Here the Darlings sing “We’ll Meet Again” a song made popular for the vets in the 1940’s by Vera Lynn. This tribute is part of the A Final Farewell and 10 year anniversary of the Faith of Our Fathers Project.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 6, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 6, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 5, 2011 | Permalink

Bill looks down from the USS Arizona memorial on the final resting place or more than 1000 United States military men who died on December 7, 1941.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 5, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 3, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 3, 2011 | Permalink

Please read my article here, and remember to contact Chad Roach and the team at Cornerstone Bullion for your purchases. Here is an excerpt of their latest commentary on the volatility of the silver market and the benefits of a well-timed purchase.

Silver is up 5%. No, it’s down 9%. Now it’s back up 12% again. What in the world is going on with the price of silver and gold?

There are several things affecting the price of gold and silver right now, the largest of which is the impending European financial crisis. At first glance, one might think that the crisis in Europe should be causing the price of precious metals to go up. After all, doesn’t the equation go something like this: Economic chaos = increased demand for precious metals = higher prices. Makes sense, right? However, the short term effect of the weakening Euro has been an unusually strong US Dollar. And when the Dollar is strong, that can tend to mitigate the demand for gold/silver, since precious metals are usually viewed as a hedge against a weak Dollar. Sure, Europe is slowing getting flushed down the proverbial toilet bowl, but as long as Europe’s money is fleeing to the Dollar and not to precious metals, the short term effect of the Europe crisis has actually been to cause a mild drop in the price of gold and silver.

Now is the long term future of gold/silver any worse for the wear with this European Crisis? You be the judge, but we would say most certainly not! The need for the world to find a trusted commodity base for the money supply is only increasing with every bailout package that the EU is using to attempt to salvage the situation. Gold and silver are currently responding in an inverse relationship to the US Dollar, and naturally, as long as Europe is doing worse than the US, the Dollar looks comparatively healthy. But ask yourself, if two currencies both take a jump off a 20 story building, and one currency falls faster and hits the pavement first, is that any reason to bet that the other currency is somehow in a significantly better position?

Once the looming European situation is addressed, the US will have to face the same monster which has been hiding in our closet for decades. Our issues are the same or worse than they were before Italy and Greece provided a nice distraction from our own economic woes. I hate to say it, but a European crisis won’t do much to fix our own stratospheric national debt, our bankrupt social security system, and our chronic inability to balance a budget or trim our spending to fit within our means, just to name a few.

So before you conclude that the recent price volatility in gold and silver is the beginning of the end of precious metals, remember that no rally is without its dips. Nothing has changed in the core fundamentals driving precious metals and their ability to provide a safety hedge to your portfolio through the coming storm. And every time some fracturing currency somewhere in the world blows another large breath of air into the monetary balloon we call the US dollar, it just means the inevitable “pop” will be even more spectacular.

Posted by Doug Phillips on December 1, 2011 | Permalink