In this second post on suicide I want to review the first point I made from the Bible regarding suicide:

1)      God is in charge of life and death

The Bible says - - -

1 Samuel 2:6

The Lord kills and makes alive.  He brings down to the grave and he brings up.

Exodus 20:13

You shall not murder.  (One of the BIG TEN)

If you want to read or reread the entire blog just go back to my post from January 14^th.

The second point that I believe need to be addressed is:

2)      Suicide is the most extreme act of UNBELIEF

Suicide is the most extreme expression of unbelief in the sense that the act betrays a lack of faith in God's omniscience and omnipresence.  God makes it clear to the believer that he is in control of everything that happens to us or around us.  He expresses this in many areas of Scripture but a perfect example of this is Psalms 139.  We find that God is everywhere and in charge of everything.  He has been intimately involved in our lives since he knit each of us together in our mother's womb.  We learn that each and every day of our lives has been marked out for us before one of them came to be.  He also reminds us that "…everything that does not come from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23b)

We are faced with the reality that the act of suicide (a fatal act of self-destruction undertaken with conscience intent) ignores God's eternal and absolute authority over life and death and is arguably the most extreme act of unbelief available to man.  This is, at least in part why the Roman Catholic Church categorically condemns suicide and further claims that the act of suicide rules out the possibility of repentance and therefore forgiveness. 

Yet, the Catholic view of suicide as the unpardonable sin comes from an erroneous belief that a believer can somehow lose one's salvation.  Many times I will hear it explained this way, "If someone lies while driving a car and then dies in a car accident immediately after lying (sinning) then that person is condemned to Hell because they did not ask for forgiveness for lying.  In the same way, the Catholic will argue, it is impossible for a person to commit suicide and then ask for forgiveness for the simple fact that they are dead and no longer able to repent.  This line of reasoning is one of the most dangerous and faulty misrepresentations of biblical truth.  This leads me to my third point:

3)      Suicide is NOT the unpardonable sin

Our salvation rests not in our ability to repent for every sin throughout the day but solely on the finished work of Christ on the Cross.  Jesus made clear that His work of redemption for all mankind was "finished" (John 19:30) and further that His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9) to cover ALL of our sins.  We also know that our very salvation is actually not possessed by us at all but in fact it is kept in heaven for us until Christ comes again.  Read this beautiful passage in 1 Peter:

^?3? Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ^?4? and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, ^?5? who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

To everyone I ask – how can one loose something that is not in ones possession to begin with?  I know there will be some who have great difficulty with the true extent of God's grace through the atoning work of Christ on the Cross but their difficulty with this truth does not change its wonderful truthfulness. 

So, here we are with a horrible and perplexing dilemma:

We have no biblical grounds for denying the grace and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ to a believer who commits suicide anymore than we can deny God's grace to a believer who commits adultery.  Yet, we clearly cannot condone or encourage suicide in principle.  Where does this leave us?

Your thoughts over the past few days have been extremely insightful to me and other readers and many of you have decided to join in the discussion.  I applaud your involvement.  Some of you have chosen to email me privately about your views or questions as well.  For those who have chosen to do so, please consider responding publicly via comments posted directly to the blog.  Your private emails will be a valuable addition to the public discourse and we'll all be the better for your involvement!

I'll post my final blog on this topic in the next few days.

Until then…

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.toddphillips.net

www.frontline.to

www.frotnlinearlington.com

For those of you who have been waiting patiently for me to start posting my series on difficult subjects that I introduced under the post "Politics and Theology," the time has come!  I'm going to start with a topic that isn't considered a political hotbed topic directly – suicide.  Of course, if you take into account the infamous Terri Schiavo Case, the issue presents itself indirectly as a political issue.  I want to remind my readers that I'm only going to delve into these issues from a biblical worldview, using the Bible as my source of information and insight.  Conversely, I'm NOT going to debate the ramifications of the biblical perspective on these issues.  For those of us who follow Christ, we are obligated to submit our own perspectives, ideologies, and philosophies to the eternal truth of the Bible.  The Bible, then, molds our worldview, not politics, family, or culture.

One other note – as we delve into these different topics, it's become clear that I'll have to post several blogs on each subject in order to give them the attention they deserve.  So, if you get to the end of a post and think you know where I'm going with my next post – think again.  I think it's only fair to make you all aware that I may end a post on a proverbial cliffhanger in order to make us all think more critically about a given topic.

With that said…here we go!

First, let's define suicide so that we are all on the same page:

Suicide – A fatal act of self-destruction undertaken with conscience intent.

Thirty eight thousand such acts happen each year in the United States.  Interestingly, most of them are elderly although teens and young adults who take their own life get the most press.  

Now, what suicide in NOT:

1. A man who dies in a hurricane because he ignored a radio warning.
2. Careless person who overdoses on a medication.
3. Woman who jumps from a burning building.
4. A motorcyclist who dies from head injuries who was not wearing a helmet.

There are many reasons for suicide such as:

1. Depression caused by the death of a loved one (some religious people believe that they will be reunited with their loved one if they take their own lives).
2. Clinical depression
3. Loosing out on the corporate "rat" race – real or imagined.
4. Some elderly commit suicide so they can have "death with dignity."

There are countless other reasons and/or a combination of reasons for people to take their own lives.

What makes this issue more difficult to discuss from an evangelical (biblically conservative) point of view is that there is debate among conservative theological leaders about this topic.  Here are just a few quotes from evangelicals regarding suicide:

-         "You could lose your soul by committing suicide, so it's better to simply play it safe and trust God to make you happier. I lean to the idea that most, if not all, cases of suicide lead to damnation. I wouldn't bet on anyone going to heaven who committed suicide. I think the odds are against the person." (Tom Brown, pastor)

-         "Even if a person's earthly life has become a torment to him, he must commit it intact into God's hand, from which it came." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, famous German theologian)

-         "Suicide is wrong, nut it is not the unpardonable sin." (William Hendricks)

-         "Suicide denies that our life is dependent on God for its sustenance and survival." (Ray Anderson) 

Now that we have the preliminary information out of the way, I want to end this post by putting forth my first point:

1)      God is in charge of life and death

The Bible says - - -

1 Samuel 2:6

The Lord kills and makes alive.  He brings down to the grave and he brings up.

Exodus 20:13

You shall not murder.  (One of the BIG TEN)

These are just a few of the many passages that make certain the truth that God alone is in charge of life and of death.  He gives life and is the only one who has the right to take it away.  Each and every human being is made in God's image and God sees any act of murder or suicide (murder of self) to be an affront to His very image. 

I don't think there will be any surprise at the following statement:

Suicide is a sin.

But, some of the biggest questions that come from the mouths of Christ-followers are:

"Is suicide the unpardonable sin?"

"Do people who commit suicide go to Hell even if they are Christians?"

"Is it even possible for a Christian to commit suicide?"

We'll look at these questions and others in my next post.

In the meantime – for my more involved readers – I'd like to have some of you post passages that speak to the issue of God's utter authority over life and death. 

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.toddphillips.net

www.frontline.to

www.frontlinearlington.com

Dear Frontline Family,

Each year as I work on my vision message, I realize how privileged I am to serve as Teaching Pastor for such a vibrant and passionate family of young adults.  This year has been no different.  I firmly believe that God has brought each of us here in this unique, exciting time to serve His purposes in the Washington, DC area and around the world for His name's sake.

I am writing to ask you to clear your schedule to join in celebration and to hear the vision for 2007 this Sunday night at either 5:30 or 7:30 at Frontline.  It will be a time to remember what has happened over the past twelve years as a ministry in one location.  It will be a time to pray for the hundreds of Frontliners who have decided to step out in faith and move to the Arlington campus. It will be a time to acknowledge the power and passion of our God and the things He has called us to do!

You don't want to miss Sunday night. 

Some of the most remarkable things that God is doing through Frontline will be announced. 

One of these announcements deals directly with poverty and injustice issues around the world and is the culmination of years of prayer by many Frontliners.  As Christ followers, we have both the responsibility and the answer for the world in need, as we spread the Gospel through word and deed.  I'm truly excited to announce this historic first for our church family! 

The second part of my vision message is a challenge to each Christ-follower who calls Frontline home.  I'll challenge you with a personal assignment for the coming year.  It has nothing to do with money, service, or extra time at the church.  It has everything to do with your investment in relationships with unchurched people in Washington.  You'll be challenged, excited, and maybe even a little uncomfortable – but, those of us who commit to this challenge will mature in our faith and will impact secular Washington with the message of Jesus Christ! 

I also want to celebrate God's work in and through Frontline in 2006, and then take a faith-filled look at what God is planning for us in 2007 – including the launch of Frontline Arlington. 

Vision casting messages are important and shape the life of our church in significant ways.  In July's vision message I announced that MBC was moving forward with plans to go to a multi-campus strategy and that Frontline would launch our first campus in Arlington.  Just six months later the vision has become a reality!  Our first Frontline Arlington Service is Monday, January 22, 2007 at 7:30PM at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater! 

I hope you will come this Sunday to hear the 2007 Frontline Vision message.  We have all been brought together as young adults by God for such a time as this!

Your servant for His sake,

Todd Phillips

As promised, my post today focuses on the "bonus points" I promised to those who attended Frontline this past Sunday, January 7, 2007.  The title of the message was "Barriers to Spiritual Growth."  If you were unable to attend Frontline last Sunday and you'd like to hear or download the message from the internet, just click on the following link – Barriers to Spiritual Growth (Currently at the top of the media archives list).

The two barriers to spiritual growth I find often in the lives of Frontliners who are genuinely trying to get their relationship with God on the "right track" are: 1) Wrong motives for following Jesus, and 2) Emotions trumping the Bible as their source for spiritual Truth.  There is a third area that is not so prevalent as the two above, but would still merit the number three spot on the list of most common barriers – Lack of knowledge as to the vastness and depth of Christ's love for His children!

About a year ago, at the end of one of my messages (can't remember which one) I asked people to reads along with me as I read the statements from what I called "The Truth Card."  Each person was given their own Truth Card (about the size of a business card) and on it were the following truths:

PROPITIATION  -  we are deeply loved !

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

JUSTIFICATION  -  we are totally forgiven !

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

RECONCILIATION  -  we are totally accepted !

Colossians 1:22

But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

REGENERATION  -  we are complete in Christ !

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

For some believers, they are unable to find greater intimacy with God because they have never been told exactly how God feels toward them as his children.  We can't respond rightly toward God and others until we grasp just how extreme the love of God is toward those who believe.

Ponder for a moment…you are deeply loved, totally forgiven, totally accepted, and complete in Christ!  Nothing is required from you as a child of God to receive this kind of unconditional love and acceptance from Him.  Any shortcoming you perceive in your family background, financial worth, popularity, or decisions in life is utterly inconsequential when it comes to God's love toward you as one of His children.

I hope these "bonus points" pierce the hearts of those of you who desperately need to understand just "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:18-19) I pray that God will open your spiritual eyes to see and your spiritual ears to hear and accept the wonderful truth of God's unconditional love.  These are the truths that lead to freedom and abundance in the life of the believer.

Read these truths again.

Reflect on the unconditional nature of each truth.

Pray and thank God for loving you in such a profound way.

Ask God to help you live your life based on these truths rather than the lies that we all hear from the world.

Live free.

Live abundantly!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

I often talk to people who believe that "theologically conservative" has some connection to "politically conservative."  Other will marry theological and political liberalism.  These connections simply do not exist as a matter of course. 

A theological conservative is someone who believes in a literal interpretation of the Bible, accepts the miracles of the Bible as historical fact, and believes that biblical principles apply to the lives of Christians regardless of cultural norms at any given time or in any given society.  A theological liberal on the other hand does not see the Bible as the infallible Word of God, denies miracles in the Bible, and believes that many interpretations can come from a given passage of Scripture and further, that we should apply biblical insight in light of our current cultural norms. 

Political conservatives historically favor "traditional" values and a strong military, while political liberals historically see "liberty" (or individual rights) as their primary political value.  In recent times, conservatives argue for less government interference in the free market economy while liberal argue for more governmental involvement to "protect the individual."  I can go on and on about the differences but my point is this: conservatism means something completely different from a theological perspective than it does from a political perspective.  The same goes for liberalism from both perspectives. 

This is an incredibly important distinction for all of us to understand.  I talk to many young adults in D.C. who believe that if they are theologically conservative then they must adhere to politically conservative ideology (same assumptions for young adults who are theological liberals).  Big mistake!  "Conservatism" and "liberalism" mean to completely different things when applied to theology and politics.  I've often argued that we, in the church, should come up with our own terms instead of borrowing political terms that have been around for centuries (theological "liberalism" only came about in the last century and a half).  But, until someone bothers to do this there will be continued misunderstandings, continued confusion in terms, and continued numbers of young adult Christians developing a grossly inaccurate "political theology" or theological politic" – you pick the term you like best. 

So, you want to understand these four terms?  The quickest way to get a cursory understanding of each is to click on the hyperlinks above and read the wikipedia articles on each subject.  These articles are not infallible and have some errors and inconsistencies in them but none that will cause more damage to you as a believer than having little or no understanding of the ideological differences between the terms. 

You might be thinking, "Todd, why is this such a big deal?"  My answer lies in keeping the Gospel and the Word of God pure and undefiled by the philosophies and ideologies of men.  Jude warns the church, "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." (Jude 3)  The "faith" written about here is the doctrines or Christianity that have been entrusted to us as believers.  Are responsibility is to pass it on to the next generation untainted by worldly philosophies.  This is exactly what I fear happens in our national capital of Washington, D.C. 

As young adults we must take ownership of the terms we use when describing ourselves and others.  We must take responsibility for using language correctly so we don't get dragged into erroneous thinking and debate.  In Washington this is especially paramount.  I'm also going to be taking on some issues over the next several months in my blog that will require you to understand at least the basic differences between these four terms; issues like abortion, capital punishment, and suicide. 

So, for some of us the next few months will be very challenging, but I believe worth the time spent.  Read the blogs.  Reflect on the issues.  Leave comments for others to read on my blog.  Let's create a lively and productive dialogue that ends with all of us being biblically wiser for the effort.

Until then…

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.toddphillips.net

www.frontline.to

I'm excited to let you know about the results of the Phillips Christmas Give-a-thon!  Around the middle of November I posted this:

"Julie (my wife) and I will give when you give.  If you purchase any World Vision gift of any value my wife and I will give $5.  If your gift is over $100 we will give $10.  We'll contribute up to $500 to World Vision for up to five shares of a Deep Water Well.  So, that's fifty of you giving over $100 to World Vision or one hundred of my faithful readers giving any amount to World Vision."

Then we left the link to the World Vision catalog:

"To be a part of the Phillips Christmas Give-a-thon, just go to the World Vision online catalog by pressing the following link – CATALOG."

In response, we had two posts on the blog:

Liz "bought a wheel chair" and Peg "bought a goat!"  I want to thank both Peg and Liz for their giving spirit!  Here's the interesting part, though.  Many others chose to email me privately on both myspace and my Frontline email to let me know that they had purchased something from the catalog.  Several of them said that they "didn't want to lose their reward in heaven!"  This came directly from a sermon I preached on November 27^th, only a few days after I posted the "Phillips Christmas Give-a-thon" blog.  (Here's the link to listen to the message online: Center part 8.  Go about half way down the page until you see a series titled "Center."  Part 8 is the sermon I'm talking about here). 

I'm thrilled that many of you decided to give "in secret" in response to the sermon!  I also want to clarify though that people like Liz and Peg will receive their heavenly reward as well!  The important thing to remember is the motive behind the act!  Remember, "God alone search[es] the heart and examine[s] the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." (Jeremiah 17:10)  In other words, those of you who gave in secret will be rewarded just as those of you who gave publicly for the purpose of spurring others on to acts of giving!

In total, nineteen of you purchased something from the catalog.  Julie and I didn't have time to determine how many gave under $100 or over $100 so we gave everyone credit for a purchase of $100 or more.  So, we agreed to give $10 for every purchase over $100.  The total then is $190.  We rounded up to $200 and here's how we partnered with your donations:

Goat - $75.00

Fishing Kit - $40.00

Hope for Girls Rescued from the Sex Trade - $35.00

Provide $300 Worth of Necessities - $25.00

Maximum Impact Fund - $25.00

TOTAL - $200.00

Thanks again for joining with us to show God's love to people around the world in a practical and tangible way.  Julie and I are looking forward to partnering with you in 2007 to live out our mission of impacting our generation in Washington and around the world with the message of Jesus! 

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.toddphillips.net

Well, I'm at the end of my first year of blogging and I have to admit that I thought this would be just another responsibility to add to my plate.  But, it has turned out to be an incredible blessing.  I've been able to connect with many of you through my blog that I would have never otherwise met.  I've been able to answer questions that many of you have asked in a group format such as tithing, temptation, sin, eternal security and many other subjects (which actually saved me time!). 

Your comments have been helpful and enlightening to me and I have learned much from those of you who have used this blog as a place to think deeper about issues and share your thoughts with me and the other readers. 

I sincerely hope that this blog has been and will continue to be a source of insight, understanding, laughter, and stimulate conversations with other friends and coworkers outside of this virtual world.

If you've found the blog helpful, I'd ask that you help me to share God's Truth and the message of Jesus Christ in 2007 with others.  Invite your friends and coworkers to subscribe to the blog as well.  After all, some of you started coming to Frontline only after spending weeks or months reading my blog to decide if Frontline was something worth visiting! 

Lastly, I've duplicated this entire blog (including all archived files) at our Frontline website.  The link to my blog as well as blogs from many of the Frontline staff members is at: http://www.frontline.to/pages/page.asp?page_id=10726 or they can go directly to toddphillips.blogspot.com.   For those of you on myspace you don't need to do anything to continue receiving my posts. But, for the many people who have emailed me saying that they don't plan on having a myspace account and would like to subscribe to my blog, these two links should be helpful!

If you have someone in mind that you'd like to invite to Frontline in the new year or have invited someone in the past who hasn't yet made it to a service, this blog is just another way to reach out and impact our generation in secular Washington with the message of Jesus.  So, use it as a tool share the hope and love of Christ with your friends.

I hope each of you had a restful and joy-filled Christmas and that 2007 is a banner year for each of you in your ever-increasing intimacy with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.toddphillips.net

A couple of years ago I visited what used to be Crenshaw's Day Camp.  It's closed now but for several decades it was the place to be as a kid in the summer.  The camp included about one hundred yards of waterfront on Lake Austin.  I attended Crenshaw's in Austin, Texas (where I grew up) every summer from the time I was six until I was thirteen.  This place was heaven for a kid like me who lived in a trailer park with a single mom.  Horses, water skiing, archery, riffle shooting ranges, hiking, gymnastics, trampolines, kayaks, canoes, fishing…everything a kid could want to do, this place had it.  And, it was HUGE!  At least I thought it was until I stepped out of my car that beautiful spring day a few years ago at the age of thirty five.

I parked in front of the old Crenshaw house that marked the official entry into what I always thought of as the "Disney World of Texas."  But, the first thing I noticed was that everything was so….SMALL!  I have very clear memories of walking down the HUGE driveway beside the house to get to the locker room where each camper put their towel, sandals, and lunch money.  I also remember the ENDLESS sprint from the picnic tables outside of the locker room down to the water front.  I figured when I would race my buddies to the water's edge to be first in line for skiing that we were easily running half a mile, maybe more.  I even remember the BIG hill where they built the riffle hut out of cedar poles.  The hut was so big that three of us at a time could lock and load our .22 riffles and take aim at the targets way down at the bottom of "bullet valley." 

The HUGE driveway beside the house was now only seven feet from top to bottom.  The half mile distance from the locker rooms to the water front was no more then a hundred yards now.  Did the shores of Lake Austin erode that much?  And the riffle hut…I couldn't get under the cedar roof of the hut without hunching over and it seemed as though someone had filled in "bullet valley" with dirt because the bottom of the valley was only thirty feet down. 

How could everything have possibly shrunk so much!  My larger than life memories had been accosted by the reality of a grown man's sensibilities.  What a tragedy, I thought to myself as I began to cry.  The only thing that had actually changed was the fact that my eyes were approximately thirty inches higher than they were when I was thirteen years old.  How could such a small change in my perspective have such a massive and devastating impact on the way I remembered my "Disney World?"

If only I had chosen not to stop that day.  If only I would have driven past the entrance to the camp.  Then the grandeur of my memories would still be, well…GRAND!  But, they are different now.  Life is a little bit smaller, less magical.  I lost a tiny bit of the child in me who still fights for survival in the midst of this sinful and decaying world.   

For some reason this whole camp experience came to mind a few days ago when I was thinking about Christmas.  I thought of another wonderful childhood memory.  I remember waiting all day long each December day for my grandmother, who lived next door, to let me open the window of the Christmas calendar she bought me every year.  Each day there was a tiny little picture of a Christmas tree or a dove.  The best night though was Christmas Eve, when she would let me open two windows; one for Christmas Eve and the last one for Christmas Day.  There He would be – the little Christ child lying in a manger.  So, small was the picture that I had to look very carefully to see the baby's face. 

As a little boy, I wasn't a follower of the Christ child.  Although I was elated each Christmas to open the final window to see the picture of the Christ child, I had no idea who he really was or what, if anything, he could offer me.  But, ironically enough, unlike my camp experience, everything about that little Christ child has grown larger, more immense since I chose to follow the God-man who was symbolized by those half inch pictures on all those Christmas calendars.  The great irony is that as the world gets smaller, experiences become less surprising, the wonders of life become, well, less wondrous with age, I can honestly say that Jesus keeps surprising me, inspiring me, becoming larger than life and then larger again!  Unlike my memories of camp as a child, Jesus continues to burst on to the scene of my life each new day and his grandeur overshadows the wonderful memories I had of him only the day before.  He is more loving, more caring, more giving than I remember.

What an awesome God we serve.

May your experience of Christ this Christmas be more immense, more intense, more breathtaking than the Christmas before.   

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.toddphillips.net

www.frontline.to

We now live in a nation where police must escort buyers of PS3 game systems from the front door of their local retail store to their vehicles in order to keep someone from robbing them! 

We now live in a nation where police and ambulances must be dispatched to various retail stores around the nation because people are literally trampling each other to get the best deals on "Black Friday" (the Friday after Thanksgiving when retailers get out of the red and into the 'black' in revenue). 

We now live in a world where people wait in line for hours for their favorite store to open at 3AM in order to get first dibs on cashmere sweaters that are normally $49.00 but are on sale for $29.99 until noon. 

What in the world is happening to us?

Oh, I almost forgot…we live in a fallen world.  But, the extent to which we will succumb to the draw of possessions is truly staggering.  We are a nation blinded by greed and it manifests itself in more surprising and disturbing ways each holiday season.  As Christians, we are given so many opportunities to shine brightly in a dark and sinful world.  But, it seems as though we often miss the most opportune moments to shine and instead we choose these moments to hide our light of hope and selflessness.  Not only do we hide, but many times we hide by taking on the form of darkness.  In these moments we not only keep others from experiencing the light of Christ but we also give tacit approval of the world's ways by we ourselves becoming "of the world." 

Christmas is one of those God-given times of the year when we as believers can truly stand out as givers among a people of takers.  But, is this what we do?  Do we give?  "Yeah, Todd…" you might be thinking, "I give many gifts to friends and family during Christmas and I have a credit card bill to prove it."  I don't have time to delve into all the problems with that one statement but let me suggest that it is the kind of giving that sets us apart from the world.  After all, the way of the world is to give and receive gifts in exchanges with friends and family.  This is a wonderful tradition but it is not unique to Christian culture in any way.  In our time, I'm arguing that the only way to set ourselves apart form the world is to give to those who can return nothing to us; to be aggressively selfless at a time when the rest of the world is acting selfish.

I am fully aware that giving to churches and non-profit organizations increases substantially at the end of each year and many people look for opportunities to give out of their abundance.  But, what about the act of giving sacrificially?  What about giving out of our limited store of reserves?  What about giving without any concern for the tax deduction we will receive?  Again, nothing is wrong with giving out of abundance and/or giving with a strategic tax benefit in mind, but I would challenge us all to look for an opportunity this Christmas season to give in the following way:

1. Give to someone who cannot give back.

2. Give anonymously – tell no one but God.

3. Give sacrificially.  Give out of the scarcity of your possessions rather than the abundance of your worth.  (This is different for everyone, but I promise that you will know when you have given in a truly sacrificial way.)

4. Give purely.  Give in a way that you cannot receive a tax benefit from your act of kindness.

Give in all the ways you planned on giving this year but also give in a way that honors the four caveats above.  God will get the glory.  You will mature in your faith.  Others will be blessed by Christ's love.  Give…

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

I know it's early to be talking about Christmas but I have what I think is a wonderful idea.  I hope you all feel as strongly as I do about it.  Here's the deal...I just received the World Vision Catalog in the mail.  World Vision is a Christian organization that helps needy people all over the world in the name of Christ.  The catalog shows up every November with a challenge to all World Vision donors - give part of the money you have set aside for buying presents and give a gift to those in greatest need around the world.  They give many options: sponsor a child ($30/mo), purchase a wheelchair ($14), share in a deep-water well ($100), goat ($75), and on and on. 

So here's my idea.  It's really a challenge.  Julie (my wife) and I will give when you give.  If you purchase any World Vision gift of any value my wife and I will give $5.  If your gift is over $100 we will give $10.  We'll contribute up to $500 to World Vision for up to five shares of a Deep Water Well.  So, that's fifty of you giving over $100 to World Vision or one hundred of my faithful readers giving any amount to World Vision. 

Pretty Simple!  Christmas is a celebration of God's greatest gift to the world - His Son, Jesus.  Let's show the love of Christ in a practical and measurable way by giving to another in need.  Will you join us?  This challenge is open to any readers or subscribers to my blog.  Also, if you have friends, co-workers, or family members who may want to get in on this, just let them know how to get to my blog.  They can subscribe or just read this blog and join in!

To be a part of the Phillips Christmas Give-athon, just go to the World Vision online catalog by pressing the following link – CATALOG.  When you're done, just leave a comment on this blog, or leave a private comment on my myspace message center that you gave and by what amount.  We'll keep a tally of those who give until December 25^th.  Then we'll let you know how many shares of the water well we were able to buy!  We'll be praying as i hope you will that the people of World Vision will take these gifts to those in need and tell them of the love the Savior, Jesus, has for them.  Let's pray that every man woman and child who comes incontact with these gifts would come to find forgiveness and joy in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Give and be blessed.  Then give some more, in Christ's name!  Together, let's change the world for maybe one last time.

Carpe Deum! (Seize God)
Todd Phillips