1. Pastor Jay of New Life . . . skydiving. Looks like a real rush.
2. Ryan Barnes has just been installed as the pastor of Hope Lutheran. I like this quote in their October newsletter:
The gospel is first of all a drama. It’s the story of God’s promise of a Messiah in Genesis 3:15 and his fulfillment of that promise in Jesus Christ. This drama gives rise to a doctrine, the gospel announcement that Christ was crucified for our sins and raised for our justification. Then this provokes doxology: faith, hope, praise, and thanksgiving which fuels our discipleship in the world. From commentary by Michael Horton,
The White Horse Inn, September 18, 2011.
3. Harvest Dinner. Fun Silent Auction! Great Raffle Items! Friday, October 21, 2011 at Christ Community Church. 208-529-0342. By the way, catch the “How To Study Your Bible” series on their church website.
4. The Post Register has been posting the articles related to what Pastor Robert Jeffress, lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, said about Mitt Romney. Melaleuca’s CEO in Idaho Falls (and co-chairman of the national committee to elect Romney president), Frank Vandersloot, let it rip on the issue. It has been interesting to read the reactions of the various political candidates. Do you think that Mormonism is a branch of mainstream Christianity?
5. A new statue stands in Iona. Commemorating the pioneers of 1883, it is a mother holding her child in one hand and clutching the scriptures in her other hand. Do mothers in Idaho Falls still read the scriptures today?
6. This past weekend, it was Yom Kippur. Ultra-orthodox debate the practice of kaparot. But the question remains. What will be the sacrifice for your sins?
7. The local newspaper highlights the recent SLC underwear run that set a world record. People are protesting “Utah’s uptight laws” – “2,270 people stripped to their underwear during the Utah Undie Run on Sept. 24.” Will this event rub off on Idaho Falls?
Jesus in Idaho Falls 
To answer no.4, absolutely not. It is heterodox at best, but I know you already know that, as do I…
Heterodox. Heresy. Yes. Even despite Glenn Beck’s tears this weekend.
Last time I checked, the 15 LDS Apostles encourage all to bear testimony to Joseph Smith. To follow the man. And this brings me almost to the point of wanting to throw a chair like Martin Luther of old.
Heterodoxy is rooted in the sinful nature of the first Adam. And it always looks so good. The attraction is sweet and seductive. Currently, Americans are sniffing the aroma.
But Orthodoxy smites us with the law and then heals us through the loving Gospel of the Second Adam.
Hmmm…..
I have never found heterodoxy of any sort particularly attractive. Maybe that’s because I’ve never been a button-down, law-and-order kind of guy nor, OTOH, totally antinomian.
You write: “The local newspaper highlights the recent SLC underwear run that set a world record. People are protesting “Utah’s uptight laws” – “2,270 people stripped to their underwear during the Utah Undie Run on Sept. 24.” Will this event rub off on Idaho Falls?”
Nah. At least not until the Spring.
Orthodoxy heals us indeed or rather, introduces us to the Healer. The Law, however, brings us to Orthodoxy. It keeps us alive until the Healer comes.
I’m assuming it wasn’t 2,270 people running in their Mormon undergarments. But that would be funny to see.
Mormonism is heresy. Why would any Bible believing evangelical running for office not say so outright when specifically asked?
That was a dum question, sorry.
In reference to the Horton quote above, I would recommend Buechner’s book called Telling The Truth: Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy & Fairy Tale. Simply one of the best books of the 20th C.
I’m not sure why the previous post, written by me, says that my name is 7000angels.
~ Jeremy
7000angels, I bet none of the evangelicals running for office will say publicly that Mormonism is heresy. None of them.
But the question in #4 would be directed mainly to my LDS friends. How many LDS would like to consider themselves in some kind of mainstream unison with American evangelicals? I don’t know the answer. Glenn Beck would answer in the affirmative. Maybe Mitt Romney . . . but I doubt it. Robert Millet seeks to build bridges. But I see none of this desire displayed in any public way by any of the large group of General Authorities that sit in leadership in the I-15 Corridor.
Btw, thanks for the book recommend.
“7000angels” . . . and I thought you were trying to start some new branch of Christianity. (laughing)
FYI, here’s Pastor Wilson’s take on the issue:
http://dougwils.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8999:quite-an-aesthetic-treat&catid=146:mere-christendom
Whenever I talk with a missionary, there is the initial response from them that “we are Christians too!” There definitely seems to be an angle there. But once the discussions get deeper, it’s pretty clear that I’m the apostate.
Thanks for the link. It is the nature of the beast in American politics.