The day started with a drive to Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18). Where Elijah ‘fought’ with the 450 prophets of Baal and won! One man with God on his side- defeating 450 men! Elijah knew, as we should – the he and God were a majority! I imagined the entire scene as Lon read the passage. I love the way God’s glory was revealed- read over the story yourself and be reminded of the amazing God we serve.
We then traveled to Caesarea on the coast of the Mediterranean – absolutely breathtaking! We stood in the stone amphitheater and my first thought was, “Frontline Caesarea!” Hey, why not. If we can use technology to start a church in Arlington…why not Caesarea? Paul was imprisoned in this city for two years.
Apart from the stunning architecture, the most significant thing I saw from a biblical perspective was the “Pontius Pilate Stone.” For centuries there have been people who have said that there is no evidence other than the biblical record that Pontius Pilate ever existed. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea at the time of Christ and Jesus was brought before him just before Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27). But, archeology has once again proven the Bible to be completely accurate! The name of Pontius Pilate was found inscribed in stone at Caesarea! He was in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover Feast when Jesus was arrested but he was stationed in Caesarea by the Romans. Most likely, because the city had been built in a more Roman fashion- with a large amphitheatre, hippodrome (horse racing), and a large port - he was comfortable here. There was also an aqueduct leading to the city, along the Mediterranean coast and it is still standing.
We then went to a place called the Tel Megiddo. This city overlooks the Valley of Megiddo where the battle of Armageddon will take place (Revelation 16). This is the battle that John describes in the book of Revelation between Christ and the Anti-Christ. The valley is a massive expanse of land and I imagined the forces of good and evil crossing from each side of the broad plain preparing to do battle. I’m glad we (believers) know the end of the story – Jesus wins!
Near the end of the day we walked to a point overlooking the town of Nazareth where Jesus lived most of his boyhood life. The city is extremely compact and it was easy to imagine the voices of the villagers in Jesus’ day. I pictured him running around the narrow streets with his ‘crew’ after working with Joseph, his earthly father. We stood and watched as the sun set behind the small town – its lights beginning to show through the windows of the buildings. Surreal.
It’s hard to believe that the past few days are just the beginning of what we are to see. I can honestly say that if the trip were over this moment we have seen enough to justify the expense. But, the fact remains that the trip has only just begun! We can look forward to seeing all of Jerusalem – the garden Tomb where Jesus was buried, the rocks that were part of the Great Temple of God that was destroyed in 70 AD, the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before he was arrested, the East Gate where tradition holds that Jesus will reenter Jerusalem when He comes again – so much yet to see!
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
Monday, October 30, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Dream Trip to Israel Part 5
My efforts to absorb all that I’ve seen in the last few days have been futile. There is simply too much information and too many sites, all of which are astoundingly significant from a biblical perspective. I feel as if I have been studying the Bible for the past twelve years in brail until the past few days. Like Paul, the scales have fallen from my eyes and now I have SEEN what I have only read about in the Scriptures. My hands have touched what Jesus himself spoke about during His ministry.
For example, Lon (our senior pastor) preached at or very close to the site that Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount which is found in Matthew 5-7. Just before he preaches the Book of Matthew records that “Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.” (Matthew 4:25) As we are sitting there overlooking the Sea of Galilee, Lon points out over the waters and explains that most of the disciples lived around this northern section of the Sea of Galilee. The towns around the area were called the Decapolis because there were ten towns (“Deca” means “ten” and “polis” means city). These ten towns, the Decapolis, are mentioned right in the Scriptures and several of the towns were just across the less than eight mile expanse of the Sea of Galilee (this body of water is only thirty miles long and eight miles wide)! I began to imagine thousands of people walking around the northern bend of the sea from around this body of water and also coming up the ancient roads from Jerusalem in the south to hear Jesus preach. I imagined them sitting down all over the hillside around Jesus as He spoke Truth to them. Everything was so different than I imagined. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), powerful if only read from the pages of the Bible, will now never be the same for me. For the rest of my life I will have with me the memory of the smell of the air, the calmness of the waters, and the skyline behind Jesus as He spoke His words right there at the shores of Galilee.
We also visited Capernaum, which Jesus made His headquarters during His three year ministry. The most impressive story in the Scriptures with Capernaum as its backdrop is found in Luke 7: 1-10. I will share the first few verses with you:
1 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”
As utterly unbelievable as it was, we listened to Lon read form Luke 7 while we stood inside the very synagogue that this passage says the Centurion built! This man must have been a much admired man - a Roman soldier who helped build a synagogue? A Roman, who had Jewish leaders intercede on his behalf? A Gentile soldier whose faith was so strong as to believe that whatever Jesus commanded would be done. He trusted Jesus implicitly. He knew that Jesus spoke with authority. He didn’t question. Jesus, himself was amazed at this man’s faith. Jesus continues to look for faith-filled people. If only we all had the faith of the Centurion. The wonderful truth is that we can! We simply need to allow God to…be GOD. There was a plaque at the first church we went to that sums up my point:
“The deeds and miracles of Jesus are not actions of the past. Jesus is waiting for those still prepared to take risks at his word because they trust his power utterly.”
What risks is God asking you to take based on the truth laid out in His word? If you want to grow your faith- then grow your understanding and knowledge of God through Scripture. I urge you to read and reflect upon the story of this faithful Centurion from Luke 7 and I close this post with a quote from Lon, “It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers His Helper is omnipotent.”
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
For example, Lon (our senior pastor) preached at or very close to the site that Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount which is found in Matthew 5-7. Just before he preaches the Book of Matthew records that “Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.” (Matthew 4:25) As we are sitting there overlooking the Sea of Galilee, Lon points out over the waters and explains that most of the disciples lived around this northern section of the Sea of Galilee. The towns around the area were called the Decapolis because there were ten towns (“Deca” means “ten” and “polis” means city). These ten towns, the Decapolis, are mentioned right in the Scriptures and several of the towns were just across the less than eight mile expanse of the Sea of Galilee (this body of water is only thirty miles long and eight miles wide)! I began to imagine thousands of people walking around the northern bend of the sea from around this body of water and also coming up the ancient roads from Jerusalem in the south to hear Jesus preach. I imagined them sitting down all over the hillside around Jesus as He spoke Truth to them. Everything was so different than I imagined. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), powerful if only read from the pages of the Bible, will now never be the same for me. For the rest of my life I will have with me the memory of the smell of the air, the calmness of the waters, and the skyline behind Jesus as He spoke His words right there at the shores of Galilee.
We also visited Capernaum, which Jesus made His headquarters during His three year ministry. The most impressive story in the Scriptures with Capernaum as its backdrop is found in Luke 7: 1-10. I will share the first few verses with you:
1 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”
As utterly unbelievable as it was, we listened to Lon read form Luke 7 while we stood inside the very synagogue that this passage says the Centurion built! This man must have been a much admired man - a Roman soldier who helped build a synagogue? A Roman, who had Jewish leaders intercede on his behalf? A Gentile soldier whose faith was so strong as to believe that whatever Jesus commanded would be done. He trusted Jesus implicitly. He knew that Jesus spoke with authority. He didn’t question. Jesus, himself was amazed at this man’s faith. Jesus continues to look for faith-filled people. If only we all had the faith of the Centurion. The wonderful truth is that we can! We simply need to allow God to…be GOD. There was a plaque at the first church we went to that sums up my point:
“The deeds and miracles of Jesus are not actions of the past. Jesus is waiting for those still prepared to take risks at his word because they trust his power utterly.”
What risks is God asking you to take based on the truth laid out in His word? If you want to grow your faith- then grow your understanding and knowledge of God through Scripture. I urge you to read and reflect upon the story of this faithful Centurion from Luke 7 and I close this post with a quote from Lon, “It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers His Helper is omnipotent.”
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Dream Trip to Israel Part 4
My wife and I are sharing time journaling and blogging for the Israel posts. Julie had some thoughtful insights that I've posted below:
"My first experience to really enjoy this trip occurred at the very beginning. Our bus pulled up to a church marking the place (within 50-100 yards or so) where a resurrected Jesus joined a few of his disciples for a fish lunch after instructing them towards a miraculous catch of fish (see John 21) on the Sea of Galilee. Lon gave a short sermonette that reminded us of the unconditional love our Savior has for us- Remember, Peter had denied Christ just before his death and yet Christ made a point to come to him after resurrection. We sat in a small amphitheatre and listened to the Sea of Galilee in the background. Between my own memories of how Jesus has loved me over the years, and the sound of the waves- I felt peace and connection. Todd and I then walked down to the shore and picked up a few rocks for our children. Seeing the Sea of Galilee is really amazing! What an understatement. I mean so much of Jesus' ministry was spent around this area, so many life lessons were taught from this natural stage created by His father in Heaven. The sounds and sights will stay with me even as I return home.
We also visited the supposed site where Jesus performed the multiplication (loaves of bread and fish) miracle. The mosaic that documents that miracle is absolutely beautiful in a simple way. It exemplifies the miracle to me. It is a story that I have known since a small child- a simple concept with a BIG lesson- give what you have to God- willingly and obediently and see what God can do with it! Everywhere we go, I am drawn to the souvenirs of anything with this mosaic on it. We haven't bought anything yet, Todd keeps reminding me that souvenirs are like oxygen- they are everywhere! BUT….I guarantee I will come home with something that has the mosaic of the basket and two fish- because without faith, it is impossible to please him and he rewards those who seek him- nothing is impossible for our God! A basic truth I can apply to every aspect of my life.
We have seen many things already in such a short time and we travel from place to place on a large bus. I find myself thinking, "Why is this rocky terrain called the Promised Land? What is so special about Israel? What are my children doing? Etc." And then, I step from the bus and find myself in a land that just feels good standing there. The cool breezes, the many hills that have cities on them, everywhere you look; there is a mountain where God's glory was revealed in some way. I feel close to my Savior and when I read passages I have read many times, I gain a perspective I never realized I lacked. I am working to keep those reminders in my heart and to not let the gagging exhaust from the bus, the crowds, or commercial aspects challenge my experience with Christ.
That is true at home as well. Many days I allow the 'gagging exhaust' of my daily life to overpower what I know to be true. I allow circumstances to come between my Savior and me. I long to follow him with a servant's heart at all times- to step out in faith, to throw my net in the path he is directing so I can be a part of his miracles. To give him the little I have so that it can be multiplied for His glory.
Jesus. My Jesus. Your Jesus. There is just something about that name, that person. And I am seeing it all around me. I don't have to be in Israel to experience it- but what a wonderful backdrop to be refreshed and refilled."
Isn't my wife a great writer!
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips (but, mostly Julie today)
www.toddphillips.net
"My first experience to really enjoy this trip occurred at the very beginning. Our bus pulled up to a church marking the place (within 50-100 yards or so) where a resurrected Jesus joined a few of his disciples for a fish lunch after instructing them towards a miraculous catch of fish (see John 21) on the Sea of Galilee. Lon gave a short sermonette that reminded us of the unconditional love our Savior has for us- Remember, Peter had denied Christ just before his death and yet Christ made a point to come to him after resurrection. We sat in a small amphitheatre and listened to the Sea of Galilee in the background. Between my own memories of how Jesus has loved me over the years, and the sound of the waves- I felt peace and connection. Todd and I then walked down to the shore and picked up a few rocks for our children. Seeing the Sea of Galilee is really amazing! What an understatement. I mean so much of Jesus' ministry was spent around this area, so many life lessons were taught from this natural stage created by His father in Heaven. The sounds and sights will stay with me even as I return home.
We also visited the supposed site where Jesus performed the multiplication (loaves of bread and fish) miracle. The mosaic that documents that miracle is absolutely beautiful in a simple way. It exemplifies the miracle to me. It is a story that I have known since a small child- a simple concept with a BIG lesson- give what you have to God- willingly and obediently and see what God can do with it! Everywhere we go, I am drawn to the souvenirs of anything with this mosaic on it. We haven't bought anything yet, Todd keeps reminding me that souvenirs are like oxygen- they are everywhere! BUT….I guarantee I will come home with something that has the mosaic of the basket and two fish- because without faith, it is impossible to please him and he rewards those who seek him- nothing is impossible for our God! A basic truth I can apply to every aspect of my life.
We have seen many things already in such a short time and we travel from place to place on a large bus. I find myself thinking, "Why is this rocky terrain called the Promised Land? What is so special about Israel? What are my children doing? Etc." And then, I step from the bus and find myself in a land that just feels good standing there. The cool breezes, the many hills that have cities on them, everywhere you look; there is a mountain where God's glory was revealed in some way. I feel close to my Savior and when I read passages I have read many times, I gain a perspective I never realized I lacked. I am working to keep those reminders in my heart and to not let the gagging exhaust from the bus, the crowds, or commercial aspects challenge my experience with Christ.
That is true at home as well. Many days I allow the 'gagging exhaust' of my daily life to overpower what I know to be true. I allow circumstances to come between my Savior and me. I long to follow him with a servant's heart at all times- to step out in faith, to throw my net in the path he is directing so I can be a part of his miracles. To give him the little I have so that it can be multiplied for His glory.
Jesus. My Jesus. Your Jesus. There is just something about that name, that person. And I am seeing it all around me. I don't have to be in Israel to experience it- but what a wonderful backdrop to be refreshed and refilled."
Isn't my wife a great writer!
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips (but, mostly Julie today)
www.toddphillips.net
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Dream Trip to Israel Part 3
As I write this I’m certain that many of you are like me. I’m the kind of person that has to experience something myself for it to mean anything to me. So, for example, when I read the plethora of background material we received in the mail to prepare us for our trip to Israel I skimmed over it and said to myself, “None of this can possibly prepare me for actually being there…standing where Jesus stood, walking where Peter walked, touching the stone that marks the traditional site where the resurrected Jesus fixed a meal of fish for his disciples. I was right of course (and so are you if, as I said, you are anything like me). Nothing can prepare you for the experiences of a trip to the Holy Land. Yet, I’m compelled to write because I believe that a few of you will read these posts, learn of the many wondrous experiences that await the man or woman who would dare to allow themselves such a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you’ll dive in with both feet - especially if you’re young!
I’m convinced the best time to take a trip to Israel is when you’re young (16-40 years old). I say all this because the days are long, we walk a good amount of the time to reach the sites, and there is little time for rest. Most of the people in our group are over fifty. Of the one hundred and seventy tourists with our group only around thirty are below the age of forty. Often, young people will excuse themselves from adventures like these claiming they can’t afford it. Now, as true as that may be for some, others of you only need to make the decision to take the trip and commit to saving the money.
More often though young people make decisions on the assumption that there will always be another opportunity. Then we wake up and we’re fifty or sixty years old and we can easily afford the trip but we find it’s not as easy to get out of bed as it once was. The hours we spend in the bus hurts our backs and the food isn’t so kind to our stomachs. You can never buy time nor can you borrow a single minute. When it is spent, it’s spent. No going back.
So, as you read these posts ask yourself, 1) “Would I grow in my relationship with God by experiencing these places? If you answered ‘yes,’ then the next question should be, 2) “Is it possible for me to cover the cost of next year’s trip or can I start now to save a few hundred dollars (or less) a month to take the trip in 2008? If you answer ‘yes’ to either of these options then prayerfully consider that their may not be another trip, there may not be a better time, and you’re not getting any younger!
As Lon, our senior pastor says, “Not a sermon, just a thought.”
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
I’m convinced the best time to take a trip to Israel is when you’re young (16-40 years old). I say all this because the days are long, we walk a good amount of the time to reach the sites, and there is little time for rest. Most of the people in our group are over fifty. Of the one hundred and seventy tourists with our group only around thirty are below the age of forty. Often, young people will excuse themselves from adventures like these claiming they can’t afford it. Now, as true as that may be for some, others of you only need to make the decision to take the trip and commit to saving the money.
More often though young people make decisions on the assumption that there will always be another opportunity. Then we wake up and we’re fifty or sixty years old and we can easily afford the trip but we find it’s not as easy to get out of bed as it once was. The hours we spend in the bus hurts our backs and the food isn’t so kind to our stomachs. You can never buy time nor can you borrow a single minute. When it is spent, it’s spent. No going back.
So, as you read these posts ask yourself, 1) “Would I grow in my relationship with God by experiencing these places? If you answered ‘yes,’ then the next question should be, 2) “Is it possible for me to cover the cost of next year’s trip or can I start now to save a few hundred dollars (or less) a month to take the trip in 2008? If you answer ‘yes’ to either of these options then prayerfully consider that their may not be another trip, there may not be a better time, and you’re not getting any younger!
As Lon, our senior pastor says, “Not a sermon, just a thought.”
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Dream Trip to Israel Part 2
Rarely am I speechless (and I'm not now either…but close). The plane ride was uneventful. I was able to coax my body into a few hours of sleep. We arrived on time in Tel Aviv. Nothing worthy of the blogosphere presented itself until I presented my passport to the young, very focused lady at the immigration booth. Seven people had checked my passport before this young woman took it from my hands and she was the only one to take the time to look carefully at each well-stamped page. I listened closely as she mumbled,
"Yemen, Egypt, Ethiopia…"
She then looked with intent into my eyes,
"What business did you have in the Islamic Republic of Iran?"
I hadn't set foot on Iranian soil in six years. I had forgotten that Israel and Iran weren't the best of friends (how could that have possibly slipped my mind). Back in 2000 I was invited to join a team of business men, ministers, researchers, and a Navy Seal. Our purpose was to investigate a theory that Noah's Ark might have actually landed on ore near Mt Sabalon, the highest mountain in Northern Iran. (The trip is actually chronicled in a book called "In Search of Noah's Ark" by Bob Cornuke. Back then, before 911, we still needed special permission to enter Iran as US citizens and we were given specific instructions that no person on our team who had an Israeli entry stamp in their passport would be permitted to enter Iran – period! Several of the members of our team were forced to "misplace" their Israeli-stamped passports and have a new passport issued in order to join the team.
I had never entered the country of Israel by that point so I was good to go. But it didn't dawn on me that Israel might return the favor and not allow entry into Israel if someone had an Iranian Visa in their passport.
So, this young Israeli security officer is looking at me and asking what I was doing in Iran in 2000 and I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. If you've heard me speak or read my blogs you know that I love telling stories and no one had asked me about my great and dangerous adventure in Iran searching for Noah's Ark in years! So, everything in me wanted to respond, "Well officer, have you heard of Noah's Ark?"
About that time Julie, my wife, had just received her entry permit from another agent and walked over to catch the last few moments of my conversation with this young woman. Just as I was about to tell this young lady about my adventures in Iran, I caught Julie's eye and she said quickly,
"How's it going?"
"Fine honey! This young lady was just asking about my time in Iran."
I opted for the quick and easy answer remembering that everything (smart or stupid) that I chose to do or say affected my wife.
"I'm a pastor. I was there doing ministry."
The agent looked at Julie, "Are you with him?" and grabbed Julie's passport from her hand. She picked up the phone and in less than a minute an older, more focused female kindly offered to escort me to another area. Julie shouted to the new agent,
"Can I come with him?"
She motioned for Julie to follow us. When we arrived outside a small office she took both passports with her and asked us to remain where we were as she disappeared behind a door. A short time later she asked again if Julie was with me (I assume because Julie's passport was less than three weeks old and had no marks of any kind from any country, friendly or otherwise to Israel. She let us go, we picked up our luggage, walked out with our one hundred and seventy strong tourist group and boarded the buses.
Here's where I am unable to wrap my mind around what I saw in the ninety minute bus ride to the hotel in Tiberia on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. In less than two hours we saw Tel Megiddo where Revelation places the battle at the End of Days or Armageddon (Read Revelation 16). Shortly thereafter our tour guide Dan motioned out the left windows of the bus showing us the Mount of Transfiguration (Read Matthew 17) and in what seemed only a few short moments later the bus was stopped at a scenic overlook where we were able to take pictures of the Sea of Galilee…in LESS THAN TWO HOURS. I can only imagine what tomorrow will be like.
Until then…
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
"Yemen, Egypt, Ethiopia…"
She then looked with intent into my eyes,
"What business did you have in the Islamic Republic of Iran?"
I hadn't set foot on Iranian soil in six years. I had forgotten that Israel and Iran weren't the best of friends (how could that have possibly slipped my mind). Back in 2000 I was invited to join a team of business men, ministers, researchers, and a Navy Seal. Our purpose was to investigate a theory that Noah's Ark might have actually landed on ore near Mt Sabalon, the highest mountain in Northern Iran. (The trip is actually chronicled in a book called "In Search of Noah's Ark" by Bob Cornuke. Back then, before 911, we still needed special permission to enter Iran as US citizens and we were given specific instructions that no person on our team who had an Israeli entry stamp in their passport would be permitted to enter Iran – period! Several of the members of our team were forced to "misplace" their Israeli-stamped passports and have a new passport issued in order to join the team.
I had never entered the country of Israel by that point so I was good to go. But it didn't dawn on me that Israel might return the favor and not allow entry into Israel if someone had an Iranian Visa in their passport.
So, this young Israeli security officer is looking at me and asking what I was doing in Iran in 2000 and I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. If you've heard me speak or read my blogs you know that I love telling stories and no one had asked me about my great and dangerous adventure in Iran searching for Noah's Ark in years! So, everything in me wanted to respond, "Well officer, have you heard of Noah's Ark?"
About that time Julie, my wife, had just received her entry permit from another agent and walked over to catch the last few moments of my conversation with this young woman. Just as I was about to tell this young lady about my adventures in Iran, I caught Julie's eye and she said quickly,
"How's it going?"
"Fine honey! This young lady was just asking about my time in Iran."
I opted for the quick and easy answer remembering that everything (smart or stupid) that I chose to do or say affected my wife.
"I'm a pastor. I was there doing ministry."
The agent looked at Julie, "Are you with him?" and grabbed Julie's passport from her hand. She picked up the phone and in less than a minute an older, more focused female kindly offered to escort me to another area. Julie shouted to the new agent,
"Can I come with him?"
She motioned for Julie to follow us. When we arrived outside a small office she took both passports with her and asked us to remain where we were as she disappeared behind a door. A short time later she asked again if Julie was with me (I assume because Julie's passport was less than three weeks old and had no marks of any kind from any country, friendly or otherwise to Israel. She let us go, we picked up our luggage, walked out with our one hundred and seventy strong tourist group and boarded the buses.
Here's where I am unable to wrap my mind around what I saw in the ninety minute bus ride to the hotel in Tiberia on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. In less than two hours we saw Tel Megiddo where Revelation places the battle at the End of Days or Armageddon (Read Revelation 16). Shortly thereafter our tour guide Dan motioned out the left windows of the bus showing us the Mount of Transfiguration (Read Matthew 17) and in what seemed only a few short moments later the bus was stopped at a scenic overlook where we were able to take pictures of the Sea of Galilee…in LESS THAN TWO HOURS. I can only imagine what tomorrow will be like.
Until then…
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Dream Trip to Israel Part 1.5
Oh, the Love
So....I go on myspace to read my husband's current posted blog and what do I find? A public announcement of all my fears, etc.? Oh- where is the love?
He is correct on many fronts. I am concerned about us both going overseas while our children are so young. Our youngest is only three, I feel there is so much I still have to give and the 'what ifs' do get me sometimes. But...there is also the overwhelming getting ready stuff... And, I was going to go for my COLLEGE graduation but my car died- I didn't have a wreck (that time anyway) so I needed a downpayment for another car.
Plus- I am the resident homebody and Todd is the world traveler. I mean, there has to be balance in a marriage right? I dream of the time when I will go to Africa, to Ireland, and to Greece. I long to see the ancient ruins, castles, and land I read about in multiple books. I look forward to our family ministering to other families in third world countries. I hear about other families and I am struck with admiration mixed with disbelief about all they are doing for the glory of God.
I cling to the verses in Ecclesiates about there being a time for everything, knowing that our time will come. Especially in light of the heart my husband has and instills in our children.
Marriage is interesting. The whole becoming 'one' can be difficult in many ways. You take on the other's struggles, joys, fears, and desires. Sometimes that is easy and at other points you struggle to find a way to meet your spouse half-way. This is one of those times for me.
It also happened after the birth of our first child. My parents called me and told me that they were coming to our house to stay with Parker (who was about 2 months old) so that I could remember that I was a wife first, and a mother second. Todd and I went and had an overnight date. At first, I was angry- but Todd was so excited I recognized the truth in what they were sharing from their own experiences. We had a great time and I came home refreshed- able to be a much better wife and mother.
This is another one of those times, I feel like I am being pushed out of my nest- forced to do something I am not sure I am ready for- but I know in my heart it is time.
Time to broaden my perspectives, to go beyond my comfort zone, to release my stubbornness and to embrace what God plans on showing me.
These feelings can come at any time for any of us. We become so comfortable that we begin to think we are righteous in our own thoughts. Justification is powerful.
What are you missing that God has planned for you? What fears are you holding on to? What perceived righteousness do you need to let God reshape?
This will probably be my only blog- I sneaked it in...
Blessings to you,
Julie
So....I go on myspace to read my husband's current posted blog and what do I find? A public announcement of all my fears, etc.? Oh- where is the love?
He is correct on many fronts. I am concerned about us both going overseas while our children are so young. Our youngest is only three, I feel there is so much I still have to give and the 'what ifs' do get me sometimes. But...there is also the overwhelming getting ready stuff... And, I was going to go for my COLLEGE graduation but my car died- I didn't have a wreck (that time anyway) so I needed a downpayment for another car.
Plus- I am the resident homebody and Todd is the world traveler. I mean, there has to be balance in a marriage right? I dream of the time when I will go to Africa, to Ireland, and to Greece. I long to see the ancient ruins, castles, and land I read about in multiple books. I look forward to our family ministering to other families in third world countries. I hear about other families and I am struck with admiration mixed with disbelief about all they are doing for the glory of God.
I cling to the verses in Ecclesiates about there being a time for everything, knowing that our time will come. Especially in light of the heart my husband has and instills in our children.
Marriage is interesting. The whole becoming 'one' can be difficult in many ways. You take on the other's struggles, joys, fears, and desires. Sometimes that is easy and at other points you struggle to find a way to meet your spouse half-way. This is one of those times for me.
It also happened after the birth of our first child. My parents called me and told me that they were coming to our house to stay with Parker (who was about 2 months old) so that I could remember that I was a wife first, and a mother second. Todd and I went and had an overnight date. At first, I was angry- but Todd was so excited I recognized the truth in what they were sharing from their own experiences. We had a great time and I came home refreshed- able to be a much better wife and mother.
This is another one of those times, I feel like I am being pushed out of my nest- forced to do something I am not sure I am ready for- but I know in my heart it is time.
Time to broaden my perspectives, to go beyond my comfort zone, to release my stubbornness and to embrace what God plans on showing me.
These feelings can come at any time for any of us. We become so comfortable that we begin to think we are righteous in our own thoughts. Justification is powerful.
What are you missing that God has planned for you? What fears are you holding on to? What perceived righteousness do you need to let God reshape?
This will probably be my only blog- I sneaked it in...
Blessings to you,
Julie
Dream Trip to Israel part 1
Israel! I’m going to Israel! I've been blessed to travel all over the world but I've seldom been more excited than I’ve been over the past few days as I've been making final preparations for my trip to Israel with my wife! We leave this coming Monday, October 23rd. I’ve been waiting almost since the day I began my relationship with Jesus to go to ‘The Holy land.” Now, the experience is only days away.
My wife, on the other hand, is a bit less enthusiastic. It’s not that she doesn’t want to go. In fact, her parents were going to send her to Israel for her high school graduation but she wrecked her car at just the right (or wrong) time and much of the graduation trip money had to go to cover repairs. So, she’s been waiting over ten years to take this trip. Her excitement is tempered by the idea that we might both die on the trip in some tragic accident and our kids would be left without their parents. This kind of reaction is normal for parents but we can’t allow ourselves to live in (or make choices based on) this kind of fear. Julie, my wife, understands all this intellectually but she is still working through the emotional side of it all. Add to these thoughts the fact that this will be her first trip overseas and she taking a big step. My first trip overseas was to London with my father in the late nineties so it’s been a while since I’ve experienced the mixture of excitement and uncertainty that comes with such a trip.
Julie and I also have certain members of our family and friends who feel it their duty to email us articles of recent car bombings and terrorist attacks that have happened within five hundred miles of our planned destinations. This has been happening to me over the past ten years or so since I began frequently traveling overseas but my wife hasn’t had the pleasure of receiving these kinds of emails until now. I often thanks my friends and family for their concern and then email them an article of the number of recent murders in their own state and this seems to lessen the frequency of the concerning correspondence.
I digress.
The point of my post was not to ask you to pray for my wife (which I’d really appreciate) nor to make light of my friends and family who think we’re less than intelligent for going to “war-ravaged” Israel (although I enjoyed it so much) but to let you know that I’ll be blogging regularly starting Monday about the experiences of our trip. I hope you will all take the time to read my posts because it’s my prayer that you would be encouraged to consider taking a trip to Israel yourself in the near future.
Until my next post…
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
My wife, on the other hand, is a bit less enthusiastic. It’s not that she doesn’t want to go. In fact, her parents were going to send her to Israel for her high school graduation but she wrecked her car at just the right (or wrong) time and much of the graduation trip money had to go to cover repairs. So, she’s been waiting over ten years to take this trip. Her excitement is tempered by the idea that we might both die on the trip in some tragic accident and our kids would be left without their parents. This kind of reaction is normal for parents but we can’t allow ourselves to live in (or make choices based on) this kind of fear. Julie, my wife, understands all this intellectually but she is still working through the emotional side of it all. Add to these thoughts the fact that this will be her first trip overseas and she taking a big step. My first trip overseas was to London with my father in the late nineties so it’s been a while since I’ve experienced the mixture of excitement and uncertainty that comes with such a trip.
Julie and I also have certain members of our family and friends who feel it their duty to email us articles of recent car bombings and terrorist attacks that have happened within five hundred miles of our planned destinations. This has been happening to me over the past ten years or so since I began frequently traveling overseas but my wife hasn’t had the pleasure of receiving these kinds of emails until now. I often thanks my friends and family for their concern and then email them an article of the number of recent murders in their own state and this seems to lessen the frequency of the concerning correspondence.
I digress.
The point of my post was not to ask you to pray for my wife (which I’d really appreciate) nor to make light of my friends and family who think we’re less than intelligent for going to “war-ravaged” Israel (although I enjoyed it so much) but to let you know that I’ll be blogging regularly starting Monday about the experiences of our trip. I hope you will all take the time to read my posts because it’s my prayer that you would be encouraged to consider taking a trip to Israel yourself in the near future.
Until my next post…
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Temptation and Sin Part 4
We live in a world and in a state of being created by God where we have a choice…a choice to live in the spirit or to live in the flesh. Each new day (each moment for the matter) affords us the opportunity to abide in Christ and live according to the spirit or to rebel and live according to our own desires. The results of each are made plain in Galatians 5:16-26:
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
The same Paul who wrote Romans 7 and 8 (from my last post) is the one who helps us understand that we ultimately have two options: live by the spirit daily or live by the flesh daily. Each choice has its own clear and distinct set of evidences as described in the passage above.
SO, what have we learned? How do we deal with temptation and sin? From my posts and the response of many brothers and sisters in the faith we’ve been reminded of some valuable truths:
1.Connecting to a community of believers at an intimate level is essential for victory over temptation. We aren’t meant to battle temptation in isolation.
2.Studying and meditating on the Word of God, allowing God’s Truth to “renew our minds” is also vital.
3.The battle against temptation is a daily, even moment by moment, battle that even the heroes of the faith like Paul battled with daily. But, we chose daily to gratify our own desires or submit to the spirit of God and experience the results of such a choice – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control
So, if you are now struggling with a specific temptation and cannot seem to find your way to purity of mind and deed, then ask yourself which of the three truths above are missing in your life…then pursue that truth with vigor. Christ promises that he will not give us anything that we, under the direction of the spirit, cannot handle. He has given us the Spirit to empower us to live lives of righteousness.
Keep fighting the good fight!
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
The same Paul who wrote Romans 7 and 8 (from my last post) is the one who helps us understand that we ultimately have two options: live by the spirit daily or live by the flesh daily. Each choice has its own clear and distinct set of evidences as described in the passage above.
SO, what have we learned? How do we deal with temptation and sin? From my posts and the response of many brothers and sisters in the faith we’ve been reminded of some valuable truths:
1.Connecting to a community of believers at an intimate level is essential for victory over temptation. We aren’t meant to battle temptation in isolation.
2.Studying and meditating on the Word of God, allowing God’s Truth to “renew our minds” is also vital.
3.The battle against temptation is a daily, even moment by moment, battle that even the heroes of the faith like Paul battled with daily. But, we chose daily to gratify our own desires or submit to the spirit of God and experience the results of such a choice – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control
So, if you are now struggling with a specific temptation and cannot seem to find your way to purity of mind and deed, then ask yourself which of the three truths above are missing in your life…then pursue that truth with vigor. Christ promises that he will not give us anything that we, under the direction of the spirit, cannot handle. He has given us the Spirit to empower us to live lives of righteousness.
Keep fighting the good fight!
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Temptation and Sin Part 3
Paul (a subscriber to my blog and a Frontliner) said,
“C.G. Jung once observed that modern psychotherapy arose partly in response to the void in Christian community left by the Protestant insistence on private confession. We no longer struggle together with our deepest concerns and our most internal battles. Religon, we often hear, is a personal matter between us and God, where we keep our distance from others and relate openly with God. One difficulty with that philosophy is that we end up being less honest with him as well.”
One answer to the question of why we continue in temptation and sin lies in the very fact (as Paul said above) that we have debilitated ourselves by negating true biblical community from our lives. We are meant to “bear one another’s burdens” which we cannot do if we don’t know each other at a deep level. The “one another” passages in the New Testament are numerous and a study of these passages by any believer, especially North American Christ-followers, would be a rich, rewarding and challenging experience.
The other reason we deal with temptation is well explained by Paul (the one in the Bible) when he describes his own battle with temptation and sin:
Romans 7:14-8:17:
14 “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
So, the balls back in your court. Besides our individualized form of Christianity destroying our ability to be the community of faith God called us to be, what is Paul telling us in this passage about our struggle with sin?
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
“C.G. Jung once observed that modern psychotherapy arose partly in response to the void in Christian community left by the Protestant insistence on private confession. We no longer struggle together with our deepest concerns and our most internal battles. Religon, we often hear, is a personal matter between us and God, where we keep our distance from others and relate openly with God. One difficulty with that philosophy is that we end up being less honest with him as well.”
One answer to the question of why we continue in temptation and sin lies in the very fact (as Paul said above) that we have debilitated ourselves by negating true biblical community from our lives. We are meant to “bear one another’s burdens” which we cannot do if we don’t know each other at a deep level. The “one another” passages in the New Testament are numerous and a study of these passages by any believer, especially North American Christ-followers, would be a rich, rewarding and challenging experience.
The other reason we deal with temptation is well explained by Paul (the one in the Bible) when he describes his own battle with temptation and sin:
Romans 7:14-8:17:
14 “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
So, the balls back in your court. Besides our individualized form of Christianity destroying our ability to be the community of faith God called us to be, what is Paul telling us in this passage about our struggle with sin?
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Temptation and Sin Part 2
Temptation and Sin Part 2
Where do we all go from here? Many of us publicly (and many more privately) confessed the temptations and sins in our lives and although a few topped the charts – lust, anger, greed – many others were mentioned as well. Let’s see if I can give us a refresher list of our collective “sins of choice” – sex, money, power, ignoring the Holy Spirit’s direction, fear, lust, laziness (I like the word “sloth” but I’m not sure why), stubbornness, making television our god, lack of trust in God, lust, ingratitude, covetousness, lust, giving while expecting nothing in return, and I believe someone mentioned lust.
As I review the list (and this is a short list of the much larger list of ‘private’ messages I received and respecting their desire for privacy have not included their lists) I’m beginning to get a little depressed. But wait – God promises that he did not “give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and of love and of self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7) From my first post, God also reminds us:
Remember – “No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man.” (1 Corinthians 10:13a) God reminds us here that none of us have invented a terrible new sin. Sin has been with us since the fall and those around you wherever you are reading this right now all struggle with sin – maybe even the same ones you struggle with. But God encourages us when he says, “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13b)
From all this then, we can surmise that we should be emboldened by our faith, self-controlled and confident in the fact that we can escape any and all temptation by a God-ordained gift of a timely and obvious escape route…but, if that’s the case why are we all having such a hard time?
As I always do I’m going to get around to the answer but I don’t want us to miss the opportunity to think theologically about a very practical matter. So, here’s the question for the day – if God’s truth (i.e. the passages I refer to in this post) is in fact true, then why all the temptation…why do we all struggle?
Comment away!
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
Where do we all go from here? Many of us publicly (and many more privately) confessed the temptations and sins in our lives and although a few topped the charts – lust, anger, greed – many others were mentioned as well. Let’s see if I can give us a refresher list of our collective “sins of choice” – sex, money, power, ignoring the Holy Spirit’s direction, fear, lust, laziness (I like the word “sloth” but I’m not sure why), stubbornness, making television our god, lack of trust in God, lust, ingratitude, covetousness, lust, giving while expecting nothing in return, and I believe someone mentioned lust.
As I review the list (and this is a short list of the much larger list of ‘private’ messages I received and respecting their desire for privacy have not included their lists) I’m beginning to get a little depressed. But wait – God promises that he did not “give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and of love and of self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7) From my first post, God also reminds us:
Remember – “No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man.” (1 Corinthians 10:13a) God reminds us here that none of us have invented a terrible new sin. Sin has been with us since the fall and those around you wherever you are reading this right now all struggle with sin – maybe even the same ones you struggle with. But God encourages us when he says, “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13b)
From all this then, we can surmise that we should be emboldened by our faith, self-controlled and confident in the fact that we can escape any and all temptation by a God-ordained gift of a timely and obvious escape route…but, if that’s the case why are we all having such a hard time?
As I always do I’m going to get around to the answer but I don’t want us to miss the opportunity to think theologically about a very practical matter. So, here’s the question for the day – if God’s truth (i.e. the passages I refer to in this post) is in fact true, then why all the temptation…why do we all struggle?
Comment away!
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)
Todd Phillips
www.toddphillips.net
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