I've received many emails and messages from many of you about my absence from the blogosphere over the past several months.  I really do appreciate those of you who have expressed disappointment at the lack of posts over the summer months.  I planned only to take "a few weeks" off but it turned into a few months instead.

While taking my hiatus from blogging I talked with several other staff members who blog regularly to see if there might be a more effective and efficient way to blog as a staff.  Brandon Buckner, one of the young people in our Future Leaders Program at Frontline suggested we create a collaborative staff blog where all staff members could contribute to the content of the site.  He offered to create the site as well if we wanted to move in that direction.  Everyone thought it was a terrific idea and we launched the new site a few weeks ago. 

Brandon and other Frontline staff members and volunteers have been extremely creative in developing the site.  Some of the posts will include:

-          Regular Q&A interviews with Frontline staff members where you can get to know each of the staff members beyond just their job description.

-          We're now posting the video of the sermon every week on the blog!  Many of you have been asking for this on the web site for years.  Well, here you go!

-          I will be ramping up my personal posts as well.  From now on I won't be posting on MySpace.  All of my posts will be on the "Frontline Roundtable" starting immediately.

-          Many of the staff are regularly suggesting books for Frontliners to read.  Many, many Frontliners have been asking for book suggestions from the staff in an easy "one stop shop" location.  "Frontline Roundtable" is now your one-stop shop for all the suggested reading you can possibly handle!

In addition to all of these different posts, I also want to encourage you to hurry up and subscribe to the new site because of a very important month-long project we're launching in September called "Examined Lifestyle Month."  I'll be posting more information about E.L.M. in the coming days but I can tell you this: Examined Lifestyle Month (a Frontline-wide project) will be a daily devotional reading that will be exclusively available through "Frontline Roundtable" (except for a very few printed copies made available for those who don't have regular computer access).  So, you won't be able to benefit from E.L.M. unless you're subscribed to "Frontline Roundtable." 

Bottom line – If you have enjoyed reading my blogs over the past eighteen months, I promise you'll find even more enjoyment from our new site.  Over seven hundred of you are currently subscribed to my blog on myspace.  I pray that each one of you will move with me to our new site. 

Just follow the directions below:

1.      CUT AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO YOUR INTERNET ADDRESS BAR: 

      blogs.frontlinedc.com      

           When you arrive at the main page of the new site, search down the left column until you see "subscribe."

3.      In the subscription area you will have the option to subscribe via RSS feed, or set up a post by email (which is the same type of subscription you currently have to receive my posts on myspace).  

Take a few minutes to subscribe to the new blog site and then take a few more minutes to surf through all of the new posts that are already on our new site.  We hope "Frontline Roundtable" will become one of your favorite sites!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!),

Todd Phillips

I've talked about the following conference from the stage at Frontline over the past few weeks but I wanted to give you some more detailed info about it.  The name of the conference is Leadnow.  It starts on Thursday May 3^rd and ends on Saturday May 5^th.  I'm asking all Frontliners who are in any leadership role to attend the entire conference.  Leadnow is the only leadership training that we will offer for Frontline at large because we believe it's the best training available in 2007 for Frontline leaders.  Your time at this conference will be very fruitful.  The details are below.  Please be sure to register online at www.frontlinedc.com by tomorrow for the lowest price tickets!

What: Leadnow Leaders Conference

When: May 3-5, 2007

Where: McLean Bible Church

Why: Leadership Training for young adult church leaders

How: Keynote and breakout sessions on a myriad of relevant topics

Cost: $99 for Fronliners ONLY until Sunday, April 8th (regular price is $299); register at www.frontlinedc.com (in "Features" section).  After April 8th, tickets will be $129 if you register on the Frontline site.

IMPORTANT: If you register for Lead Now, you are also automatically registered for the Fusion Experience described below.

If you are not in leadership or if you are not able to attend the three-day Leadnow conference, there is also a special Fusion Experience starting Friday Evening May 4 and ending Saturday May 5.  I'd love to see all Frontliners at this part of the event.  The Fusion Experience details are below. 

What: The Fusion Experience

When: May 4-5, 2007

Where: McLean Bible Church

Why: Learn how to ignite your faith into action for God

How: Keynote, breakout session and worship times

Cost: $20 for Frontliners who register at www.frontlinedc.com (in "Features" section)

As a leader at Frontline, if you are unable to get time off from work to attend the entire Leadnow conference please pray about attending the Fusion experience!  If you have any questions about the conferences please respond to this blog or email me directly at todd.phillips@mcleanbible.org.  Let's learn together how God wants each of us to change the world for one last time!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.frontlinedc.com

www.toddphillips.net

Blog family,

I just published a new book called "GET UNCOMFORTABLE: Serve the Poor. Stop Injustice. Change the World…In Jesus' name."  I received my first copy in the mail yesterday and I'm thrilled with it!

Of the books and articles I've written, this is by far the most significant work God has allowed me to do.  You can look at the front and back cover of the book, the entire table of contents, and read the complete first chapter online at the:

THREADS MEDIA STORE.

This is a great study to be used with your small group or Sunday School class at your church. 

In addition to the study itself, the publisher put a lot of time and effort in creating a Leader's Kit to go with the study guide.  The Leader's Kit includes a DVD of video content that goes along with the study.  There is also a CD with Christian songs having to do with the topics of poverty and injustice from popular Christian artists.  The study is fully interactive: questions in each chapter, video and audio and discussion questions for your group. 

You can see the content of the Leader's Kit at:

GET UNCOMFORTABLE LEADER'S KIT

I hope you'll take the time to read the book and consider it for any Bible Study, small group, or Sunday School Class that you attend.  And, please leave me comments with your thoughts about the book.  I pray that this book will mobilize thousands of young adults to take action in Jesus' name and help to change the world for maybe one last time!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.frontline.to

www.toddphillips.net

www.threadsmedia.com

Question #4 in our abortion series: Is man permitted by God to end life before birth?  First let me say that I'm thrilled with those of you who have commented on this blog series and I'm further impressed with those of you who have engaged in dialogue with other readers!  This has been my prayer since the inception of this blog – to facilitate healthy dialogue and discussion among the readers!  So, let's continue:

In Exodus 21, we find a very interesting and important passage for our discussion.  God is defining penalties for severe crimes among the Israelites:

If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows.  But if there is serious injury you are to take life for life, (Exodus 21:22-23)

Here we find that an individual is punished in exactly the same manner for killing an unborn child as if they are killing an adult!  This is a strong indicator of how God feels toward unborn children. 

I want to make the case that we are not permitted to end life before birth by also using a common-sense example to hopefully force the question: What's the difference?  You'll see what I mean as you read on:

Scenario:  Mother A and Mother B become pregnant at exactly the same time.  Mother A has her child prematurely but was planning to have an abortion a in only a few days.  Three weeks later both mothers decide to end the life of their respective babies.  Yet, mother A cannot legally end her child's life because the child is now outside the womb.  Mother B however can end her baby's life legally for one reason only – the child happens to still be in the womb!  Here we have the exact same circumstances, the exact same developmental stage of the child, yet one can be killed and the other cannot.  One mother will walk out of the abortion clinic a free woman; the other will be tried for murder. 

I want to get you thinking about the next blog as well.  I'll address the issues of rape and incest as well as look at the question of severely disabled babies in the womb.  These three issues are often broached in a discussion on abortion and I'll address them in my next post.

Until then…

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.frontline.to

www.toddphillips.net

Let's continue our attempt to answer the top ten questions asked in relation to the topic of abortion.  We've answered Question #1: "Who's in charge of life and death?" and #2: "When does life begin?"  Today we'll start with Question #3: "Is God concerned with unborn children?"

I have a rather lengthy but I believe important answer to this question.  Both Isaiah and Jeremiah reveal that God has an interest in us not just from conception in the womb but also from conception in His Eternal Mind!  We are conceived by God in His own mind from eternity past, eons before we are ever physically conceived in our mother's womb.  In Isaiah 49:1 we read, "Before I was born the Lord called me; form my birth he has made mention of my name."  Then, in Jeremiah 1:5 we read, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before I was born you set me apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." 

God knows us before we are physically conceived.  Some argue here that these quotes from both Isaiah and Jeremiah are nothing more than poetic verse meant only to establish the close relationship that these prophets have with God.  Those who see this as nothing more than poetic verse, say that it is figurative language, not to be taken literally.  Others will say that this kind of relationship with God was only reserved for a select few men of God such as the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah.  To those who charge that it is only poetic language I simply say that an eternal God has no reason to speak of eternity and of knowledge within that realm in a poetic way.  He alone experiences eternity and he alone can speak of it.  Who are we to question what we read and assume upon an eternal Being?  Who are we to say that these verses must be poetic because we cannot understand such language literally?  These types of arguments show a disregard for the potential magnitude of God both in existence, experience, and action.  If God is eternal then such language taken literally is completely reasonable.

To those who suggest that these verses describe a relationship with God that only a few great men experienced should rethink such an argument.  God does use some men for greater earthly purpose but he says time and time again that he desires that all should be saved and that none should perish! (2 Peter 3:9)  Further, he tells us that "before the beginning of time" (Titus 1:2) he gave us the hope of "eternal life" (Titus 1:2) through Jesus Christ.  Each of us are made in God's image and are fearfully and wonderfully made! (Psalm 139)  We alone are made in God's image and in this way we are unique in all of God's creation.  Each one of us then was conceived in the mind of God from eternity past and share with Jeremiah and Isaiah the blessing of these words, "before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." (Jeremiah 1:5)

So, does God show concern for unborn children?  The answer can be summed up is this way:  God is not only concerned with children in the womb, he is concerned with every child that has been fashioned in His eternal mind, those in the womb as well as those who, at present, exist as Divine Idea.  My contention is that life begins before biological conception.  Or, to put it another way, life began for all of us in the mind of God.  Science cannot debate such a matter of faith and my conclusions may seem too "out of the box" for even the most mature believers.  Scripture, however, bears out my conclusions in spades. 

Your thoughts?

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!),

Todd Phillips

www.frontline.to

www.toddphillips.net

A few days ago I posted a blog attempting to answer the question, "Who's in charge of life and death?" This question is the first of ten questions I'll answer that are often asked in relation to the abortion debate.  Question #2 is – "When does life begin?"  The debate over when life begins is actually more relevant to the abortion debate than our first question regarding who's in charge of life.

So, what is the answer to this important question from a biblical perspective?  In Job 31:15 we read, "Did not he [God] who made me in the womb, make them?  Did not the same one fashion us in the womb?"  Then, in the Book of Psalms, we read,

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them cam to be."  (Psalm 139:13-16)

The "secret place" and "the depths of the earth" are references to the womb.  We are known by our God in the womb.  We are fashioned by Him in that secret place.  God's Word helps us to see that life begins at conception.  Scientists are even agreed on the fact that there is a complete genetic package the moment that sperm and egg unite.  Nothing from that point is added to the mix except time and nutrition. 

Science and medicine also support the idea that life starts at some point in the womb.  Fetal medicine has progressed to the point where doctors routinely treat unborn children for certain diseases, perform surgery in utero, and give blood transfusions.

I often hear the argument that brain function should be used to determine when life has ended and yet I have heard little discussion on the possibility of using brain function to determine when life begins.  Brain waves are recorded within six weeks after conception.  The heart of an unborn child begins to beat around the eighteenth day after conception.  So, science and the Bible should be able to agree that we have a living being within at least six weeks after conception.  Yet, these facts are ignored. 

Finally, we read that Mary, the mother of Jesus, decides to visit Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.  When Mary arrives at Elizabeth's home, John (not yet born) "leaped in her [Elizabeth's] womb." (Luke 1:41)  We see here that John responds to the fact that Mary and the as yet unborn Jesus have arrived. 

We find from the Bible that we are fashioned in the womb by God.  We see that all indicators of life even by modern science force us to see life from a very early point in utero.  Then, we look again to the Bible to see that John, as an unborn child, responds to the presence of Mary with Jesus in her womb.  God and science then should agree that we have life in utero very soon after conception. 

The idea then of middle or late term abortions is something that the scientific community should be able to agree to even if they cannot bring themselves to agree that life begins at conception.  Further, though, we read of God's connection with all that happens in the womb and cannot find any hint from the biblical text that life begins at come point after conception.  We are therefore forced to err on the side of life at conception. 

Next time…do we find evidence that God is concerned with children in utero?

Until then…respond to you heart's content!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.frontline.to

www.toddphillips.net

I decided to let your comments keep coming over the past few weeks before engaging in the comment dialogue from my last post on abortion or posting a new blog for several reasons:

1. Several of you had a lot to say about this topic that was very engaging and I wanted to give the rest of our readers a chance to read and reflect upon your many comments.

2. The comments from the past two subjects (suicide and abortion) have far outweighed comments on any other topic besides "The DaVinci Code" series I did many months back.

So, as the activity has lessened over the past few days I've decided to move forward. 

I'm going to frame this series with the "top ten" questions people have about abortion (we'll see if I get to ten or not, but I thought I'd challenge myself a little).  This may be too in depth for some of my readers who have made up their mind about abortion and find my engagement with the topic rather tedious.  So, for you I have a deal to make:  read my blogs on abortion over the next four to six weeks and I promise I'll break up the monotony with some entries on different subjects that I hope you'll read. 

Here we go!  These are the questions that I've heard, in no particular order about this difficult topic:

Question #1:

Who is responsible for life and death?

For those of you who read my blog series on suicide last month you'll find that this question mirrors some of the comments I made regarding suicide but I feel strongly that any dialogue on the topic of abortion must address this question biblically. 

If we look to our own American culture, we find several different views on who's responsible for life and death.  Dr. Kevorkian advocates that doctors should make the choice or that patients make the choice and doctors should allow them to choose when they die.  Planned Parenthood advocates that mothers of unborn babies make the choice for their babies.  So, who's right?

We find some very clear passages from the Bible regarding life and death:

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)

 Abortion rights groups will be quick to pounce on this question.  They will say, "No problem.  We'll let God choose when life ends.  But, what we want to know is…when does life BEGIN?"  They will then make the argument that a fetus isn't a life; it's a wad of tissue…a bundle of potential.  If they're right then there's nothing more to say.  We should stop the debate and side with former US Attorney General Josslyn Elder who said, "We really need to get over this love affair with the fetus."  If an unborn baby isn't a living human being then, no big deal.  But, again, if God actually weighed in on the question of when life begins then followers of Christ must place their own feelings, opinions, and leanings aside and submit to the Truth that we find in the Bible.

This post is getting lengthy and if I attempt to address the question, "When does life begin?" in this post it will be extremely lengthy.  So, I'll leave you with your own perspectives on when life begins until next time.  If any of you are chomping at the bit though to answer this question then feel free to beat me to the punch and post a comment!

Until next time…

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.toddphillips.net

www.frontline.to

I've been surprised lately by the tremendous amount of time and effort we have put into launching Frontline Arlington.  The effort has certainly bore fruit but a few of my weekly obligations have suffered as a result.  For those who read my blogs regularly you know that my blogging falls in this category.  But, I'm back on track and ready to tackle our next topic from a biblical perspective. 

I sincerely appreciated the lively dialogue that our last topic – suicide – created among my readers.  Several of you thought a great deal about the issue from a biblical perspective and several others shared their own experiences with the topic.  I'm hoping for a similar response to our next subject…abortion. 

Before I dive into our new subject though, I want to share my understanding of the Bible and its ability to provide truth for all cultures, all individuals, and all circumstances for all time.  I believe the Bible contains God's Truth rather than the opinion of men.  The Bible doesn't need to be modernized or sanitized.  It doesn't need to be watered down, propped up, or apologized for.  It cannot be improved upon.  The Bible has been the rock of truth for millions of people for thousands of years.  I find comfort knowing that I have the Bible as my guide in dealing with yet another difficult subject.  Having the Bible as my guide means I don't have to come up with my own opinion based on experience, education or what someone told me.  Instead we can rely on the Truth of God's Word.

A short historical perspective is also needed here as a primer to our discussion.  The date – March 6, 1857.  Just before the Civil War in a pronouncement that would become known as the "dread Scott Decision," an American court declared that black people were not legal persons.  A quote form the courts records states "A slave is the property therefore of his or her owner.  A slave can be bought and sold, used and even killed at the owner's discretion.  After all they are his property."  Remember those words.

Eleven years later after the Civil War, in 1868, the people of the United States voted to correct that terribly wicked law by adopting the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.  From that point on, legal protection is afforded all living beings.  Therefore, the problem of legal protection for all living beings has been guaranteed for all time.  Right?  Wrong.

A century later on January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court rules in Roe vs. Wade that unborn human beings are not legal persons.  Therefore the unborn baby is the property of its human owner and thus can be killed at the owner request.  Sound familiar?

To some of you this may sound a bit melodramatic.  I could add that in the last 34 years since the court's decision over 40 million babies have been aborted (that we know of) …1.5 million annually…4100 a day…180 an hour…12 since you started reading this blog. 

Yet, none of these statistics mean anything if the court ruled correctly back in 1973 from a biblical perspective.  If God's Word agrees with the court's perspective on unborn babies then anyone who calls himself or herself a follower of Christ must adjust his or her thinking and actions in life to be in line with biblical Truth.  If, however, the Truth of the Bible stands in opposition to the law of the land then we are to submit to God's Truth regardless of man's perspective, governmental or personal. 

So, here's the question – regardless of what position you take on the issue of abortion, what Biblical defense do you have for your position? 

Remember – and this is essential – as a Christ-follower our sole guide for word and deed in the Bible.  Our opinions, perspectives, likes and dislikes ultimately bow to the eternal Truth of Scripture.  So, regardless of what we would choose if we were God, we must alter and mold our words and actions to the truth of God's Word, not alter God's Word to fit our opinions.

So, the stage is yours.  I'll be back in a few days to continue my series on this emotionally charged topic.  Until then…

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.toddphillips.net

www.frontline.to

All I have to say is…Wow! (That's not all I have to say…but, well…you know what I mean.  Below is the other stuff I have to say.)

I haven't had ANY time to blog over the past week because we just launched Frontline Arlington, a new campus of Frontline that meets every Monday night in Arlington.  You can read about it at the following link – www.frontlinearlington.com. 

Most of you know that we just finished a three part blog series on the topic of suicide.  Many of you got involved in the discussion and provided some very valuable insight!  I hope you will all consider engaging in our next blog series on abortion.  I know this topic will be even more challenging for many than the topic of suicide.  I'll begin that blog series Wednesday of this week (2/7).

Today though, I want to make sure every one of you is able to read several articles that have come out in several local papers! 

The first article came out on the FRONTPAGE of the Washington Times last Monday, January 29^th, 2007!  You can read the article by clicking on the following link – Washington Times Article.

The second article came out this morning (2/4) on the FRONTPAGE of the Washington Post.  The article is available at the following link – Washington Post Article. 

Both articles are relatively even-handed and, most importantly, expose us to more and more young adults in the D.C. area. 

I have a suggestion:  Send this blog to a few of your friends who you have invited to Frontline in the past and also to others who you've been thinking about inviting.  This is a great way to get them more information about Frontline Arlington via the link at top.  Through the articles they can also get some idea of what we are trying to accomplish in Washington, especially with young adults.

I say it all the time, but I'll say it again – I'm honored and humbled to be serving along side each one of you in our mission to impact our generation in secular Washington with the message of Jesus!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.toddphillips.net

www.frontline.to

www.frotnlinearlington.com

First, I know several of you have commented with very good questions regarding the topic of suicide.  What I've decided to do is post my third and final blog on the topic and then delve into your questions via responses to your comments in the comment section…make sense?

Now, let's review what we've learned so far:

1)      God is in charge of life and death

2)      Suicide is the most extreme act of UNBELIEF

3)      Suicide is NOT the unpardonable sin

Then I wrote the obvious dilemma we face:

There are NO THEOLOGICAL GROUNDS to deny a Christian who commits suicide the effects of the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ FOR SINNERS.  And yet we CANNOT ENCOURAGE OR CONDONE SUICIDE in principle.

What does a reader do then if he or she is thinking about suicide or know of someone who is seriously contemplating suicide?

For the reader does not consider themselves a Christian and is having suicidal thoughts:

Give God a chance!  Bottom line - if you have tried everything but God, try God!  I know this might sound foolish in the midst of the despair and hopelessness you must feel to consider ending the life that God has given you, but God says Himself that He is the only source of true hope.  God tells us in the Bible that as a Christ-follower you can live by faith that rests on "the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time…" (Titus 1:2) If you don't yet have a relationship in Jesus then you have been living without a hope that can sustain you through the worst of life's circumstances!  You can start a relationship with Jesus right now – really!  One of the best explanations of how to start a relationship with God is found at the following link - http://www.bgea.com/SH_StepsToPeace.asp.  I sincerely hope you'll consider putting your faith in God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  You were born into this world for one eternal purpose – to know God personally and enjoy Him forever.

For the reader who is a follower of Christ and is having suicidal thoughts:

You do not own your life!  I beg you to understand that you are thinking of killing a life that now belongs to another, namely God.  Satan wants you dead, don't let him win.  Tell someone your secret thoughts and tell them NOW!  There are other Christ-followers whom you can speak to right now at the Christian Suicide Hotline - - (714) 639-4673 OR 1-800-SUICIDE. 

For the reader who knows another person who has talked about committing suicide:

Write down the numbers I wrote above.  If there is a very serious and immediate threat call 911.  IT IS BETTER TO HAVE THAT PERSON ANGRY AT YOU FOR LIFE than for them to move forward with their plans to end their life. 

I know this doesn't answer some of the specific questions that many of you have left in the comments section.  But, I hope this will provide direction for you regardless of your specific circumstances.  Please look to the comments in the coming days for my responses to some of your specific questions!

Until then…

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!)

Todd Phillips

www.toddphillips.net

www.frontline.to