Idaho Falls

Eagle Rock and Resurrection

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Written by Charles Barnes

All the names of this community we call home can be an encouragement to us, the body of Christ in Idaho Falls, to remember what Jesus has done and what our mission here is.

The first name for this place was “Flathead Crossing.” This story is well documented in Chapter 27 of Barzilla Clark’s, Bonneville County in the Making, published in 1941.  In a nutshell, this is the story of an unreached people group hungry for the gospel, so hungry they would send several delegations, the first two of which lost their lives, on long journeys to learn the gospel from what, at the time, was known as the “White Man’s Book.” And it’s a reminder to us that there is still a harvest; God is at still work drawing hearts of residents of Idaho Falls and elsewhere to Himself.

The name “Idaho Falls” is a reminder of God’s hand in transforming a place that all the early explorers called desolate and inhabitable into the city we have today through water.  The pioneers dug the irrigation ditches, but God supplied the water to sustain life, just as he supplies the water of His Spirit to give new life to barren lives.

During 25 years or so prior to 1891, this place was called “Eagle Rock.” Eagle Rock is the place that eagles live.  One history of the city reports that 20 eagles were seen at the site of the Eagle Rock Ferry. Recent Idaho Fish and Game studies indicate that there are more nesting eagles along the South Fork than any other place in Idaho.  At least 23 businesses and 2 churches in town incorporate “Eagle Rock” into their name.

Of Scripture verses that mention eagles, two in particular are rich in meaning.  In Exodus 19, when Moses climbed Mount Sinai to meet with God, the first thing God tells him to tell the people of Israel is “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you on eagles wings, and brought you to Myself” (Ex 19:4). Many translations, instead of “lifted” read “bore” or “carried” and the Hebrew word can mean any or all of these.  But it’s the same word that used in Ps 24:7, Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!  The word is used in Isaiah 6:1, I saw the Lord, high and lifted up, and it’s the word used in many Psalms referring to lifting up hands or hearts or eyes to the Lord in worship.  Why did God use eagles, rather than camels or horses or oxen, to illustrate how he brought His people out of slavery and to the mountain where He chose to dwell?  Because eagles fly; eagles fly high, and God needed to lift His people up to where He was.

Isaiah 40:31 is another verse mentioning eagles – Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary.  God’s people, who would be taken captive to Babylon, would need to get their eyes off of their captivity and onto God, and to “see” that he would deliver them like he did His people from Egypt, that He would give them strength to return to the land, to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.  But before they could run and walk and build they needed to ascend like eagles into God’s presence, to grasp the work that He was doing and involving them in – “Get yourselves up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, lift up your voice mightily” (Is 40:9), to proclaim the news of His return to the mountains (powers or kingdoms) of the world.

Jesus was lifted up on the cross; He was raised from the dead; He ascended into heaven and seated at God’s right hand, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named.  And God raised us up with Him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6).

As God lifted up the Israelites to the place where He dwelt, so God has raised us up in Christ, has brought us to Himself, so the eyes of our hearts can be enlightened.  So we can see farther.  So we can see clearer.  So we can see in His light and not be blinded by the darkness of the world, the lies of the world, the gods of this world.  So we can get a perspective that’s normally hidden from us by the sinful world we live in.  So we can receive new strength, strength that transforms us and enables us to be His priests.

So whenever you see the name “Eagle Rock” or see an eagle soaring above the city or the South Fork, remember that God raised Jesus and has raised you up in Christ to where He dwells, to see, understand and be empowered to do His work in this city.

 

Sent from Idaho Falls

Charles Barnes writes today about those who are being sent out from Idaho Falls:

1.      Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson is a high school student at Watersprings School and a member of the worship team of Eagle Rock Vineyard.  Over Spring Break, Joe is going to Guatemala on a mission trip, associated with Potter’s Field Ministries, which has a permanent outreach ministry near Antiqua.  Joe and his classmates will be involved in construction projects, helping prepare the facility for Holy Week (which is celebrated for 3 weeks), helping teach English in some classrooms, and using his music skills in ministering to children.  Joe hopes to raise a total of $800 by March 8 (he leaves a week later); you can learn more, see his progress and contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/7fseu5a4.

2.      Mitch and Amanda Chaplin

Mitch Chaplin was the only Christian in his family until a few months ago.  God brought together Mitch from Nova Scotia, and Amanda, from Idaho Falls via Boise and then Alaska, joined them in marriage in Michigan, and after a number of years of training and preparation, is now sending them to disciple and encourage a new generation to become missionaries to unreached peoples.  Mitch and Amanda have hearts to serve and enthusiasm to take the gospel where it hasn’t gone.

While Mitch’s family was marginally involved with the United Church of Canada, Mitch did not hear a clear presentation of the gospel until the summer after 7th grade.  A group from North Carolina had come north to Nova Scotia to do a summer Vacation Bible School. Much older than the kids that came to the VBS, Mitch hung out with the staff and from them heard the gospel and responded.

In high school he became friends with Christians who went to different churches, and this group would make the rounds of going to several church youth groups each week.  A leader of one of the youth groups joined New Tribes Mission and was headed to Brazil, and he encouraged Mitch to go to a NTM Bible School after graduating from high school, and even took him to visit the school.

Amanda spent the early years of her life in Idaho Falls, and most of her relatives are LDS.  Some are still very committed Mormons, others marginal.  When Amanda was very young, a man her dad worked with invited her parents to go to a concert in Idaho Falls.  The concert turned out to be a revival meeting, and they both responded to the invitation to be saved.  Amanda’s family moved to the Boise area when she was 6 years old and she came to saving faith in Jesus while living in the Boise area at the age of 11.  The family then moved to Alaska as she entered High School.  It was there that she got plugged into a strong youth group, was mentored and discipled and where her heart for missions grew.  As she heard missionaries share in her youth group, she knew that was what she wanted to do.  After high school she attended Ecola Bible School in Cannon Beach, Oregon.  One of the teachers there was a New Tribes missionary who shared about their 2 year Bible School (NTBI) and their Missionary Training Center.

Mitch and Amanda met at the New Tribes Bible Institute in Jackson, Michigan.  New Tribes has a two year Bible Study program; following graduation Mitch and Amanda took time to work to pay off school debts and be involved in youth ministries.  For a year and a half, they lived in Idaho Falls and were involved with Christ Community Church, helping with the youth program there.  They also came back to Idaho Falls during the summers to help with mission trips of the Christ Community youth group.

During this period Mitch and Amanda desired to continue their training with New Tribes Mission, the next phase of which involved an 18-month program with courses in cross-cultural communication, church planting, and linguistics, and a 6 week “jungle camp” aimed at learning basic living skills needed in undeveloped areas of the world.  These years prior to returning to school were a time God was teaching them to live by faith.  Amanda had three miscarriages.  And for a while they had doubts about their calling to missions, as people in their church in Canada, where they had been involved for many years, were hinting that the church may not give them any support.  But support did come through to enable them to enroll in NTM’s Training Center in Ontario.  During their time in Ontario, Amanda gave birth to a healthy daughter, Amy Grace, on May 2, 2014, just 4 short weeks before their Jungle Camp practicum began.

Mitch and Amanda completed the NTM Training program and jungle camp, spent some more time working to finish paying off school debts as well as beginning to raise their financial and prayer support team.  They arrived in Idaho Falls early last month to continue to raise their support for working full time with New Tribes Mission.  For their first 4-year term, they plan to return to the NTM Bible Institute in Michigan.  While helping to run the cafeteria, they will be involved in discipling students and seeking to influence them to pursue further missionary training.  This will also give Mitch time to gain US citizenship, so that then when they later go overseas it will be much easier making trips to both the US and Canada.

Mitch and Amanda expect to be in Idaho Falls until May and would love to share with you more about their lives and their calling.  You can contact them at mitch_chaplin@ntm.org or learn more at http://mitchandamanda.com/.

And yes, Mitch says that he IS related to Charlie Chaplin!

Conflict and Gospel Grace Reconciliation (1)

What do you do when you are in the middle of conflict?  It is natural to be overcome by the big problems and lose sight of the big God.  Actually, your big God completely engulfs any of your problems.  God would tell you to do three things when in the middle of conflict.  And let me acknowledge that I am utilizing helpful thoughts and structure by a Christian brother named Ken Sande who lives in Billings, Montana.  All Bible references are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV).

1. First of all, trust God

God is sovereign.

Scripture reminds us over and over again, “The LORD shall reign.” – Exodus 15:18.  Indeed, our God does reign.

Over nations.  Over cities.  Over Idaho Falls.  Over churches.  Over marriages.  Over every individual life in this room. “Every conflict that comes into our lives has somehow been ordained by God.  Knowing that he has personally tailored the events of our lives and is looking out for us at every moment should dramatically affect the way we respond to conflict.” – Sande

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.” – I Timothy 1:17

God is good.  (Yes, all the time, God is good)

“God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God.  Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You render to each one according to his work.” – Psalm 62:11-12

“The more confidence we have that God is both sovereign and good, the meeker we can be.  Meekness is an attitude toward God that causes us to accept all his dealings with us as being good, and thus to accept them without resistance or resentment (Rom. 8:28).  A meek person is content and thankful no matter what his circumstances (Phil. 4:12-13), because he sees that God has already given him everything he needs in Christ (Matt. 5:5; Romans 8:31-32).  Thus, instead of thinking, “I’m missing out; it’s not fair,” a meek person thinks about and gives thanks for God’s goodness, mercy, power, and provision (Acts 4:23-31; 5:40-42; 7:59-60; John 18:11).  Meekness has nothing to do with weakness, for both Moses and Jesus are described in the Bible as being meek (Num. 12:3; Matt. 11:29).  In fact, meekness has sometimes been referred to as “power under control.”  This quality is highly commended throughout Scripture (Ps. 37:11; Matt. 5:5).  Meekness has a direct impact on our dealings with other people, especially in the midst of conflict.  Knowing that God works for good in all things, a meek person is able to endure mistreatment from others with patience and without resentment or bitterness.  Because this attitude does not come to us naturally, we need to pray that the Holy Spirit will work steadily to help us to become meek.” – Sande

What thoughts have you been thinking about God throughout this past week?  Certainly, what you are thinking about God has direct bearing on your horizontal relationships with one another.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” – Colossians 3:1-2

I would encourage you to wake up each morning and meditate on the attributes of God; likewise, when you go to bed at night.

2. Secondly, seek ways in how you can glorify God

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.  Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” – I Corinthians 10:31-11:1

How can you honor and please the Lord in the middle of conflict?  How can you glorify God?   Rather than being continually upset or fearful by what you think is going down in the conflict, seek how you can grow and glorify God in the midst of the conflict.  This is the whole purpose for why God is allowing it.  Your good and His glory.

As other people watch you in conflict, what fruit of the Spirit do they see? “And we labor, working with our own hands.  Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat.  We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.” – I Corinthians 4:12-13.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

“That the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience . . . the older women . . . reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things . . . young women . . . to love . . . discreet, chaste . . . young men . . . sober-minded . . . sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” – Titus 2:2-8

3. Third, be a peacemaker

Think about what your natural tendencies might be in conflict.  To escape from others?  To leave them? Or to fight others? And to shut them down?  Both responses add more hurt.  In one verse, we see both of these natural responses in chosen Abram’s family:  “And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.” – Genesis 16:6.  An escape or fight response usually ends in KYRG:  Kiss your relationship goodbye.   Thankfully, God stepped into the middle of this.

Now there are instances where you might need to step down or step aside to give God time to work in your heart.  To calm down.  To pray.  To rest.  To let God redirect your thoughts.  I can understand this.  And also, flight is good when one’s physical life is in grave danger.  But here is the Lord’s way.  Don’t permanently leave your marriage, your family, your brother or sister, or your church family.  Let God do His ongoing work in you and those around you.

In the midst of the conflict, commit yourself to resist fleeing or fighting.  Resolve in your heart to do this – what God desires of every one of you.  Be a peacemaker.  “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . those who mourn . . . the meek . . . those who hunger and thirst for righteousness . . . the merciful . . . the pure in heart . . . Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” – Matthew 5:3-9

Seek to be a fulfillment of your Lord’s prayer for you.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” – John 17:20-23

“As death drew near, the Lord focused on a single concept he knew to be of paramount importance for all those who would believe in him.  He did not pray that his followers would always be happy, that they would suffer, or that their rights would always be defended.  Jesus prayed that his followers would get along with one another.  This was so important to him that he tied his reputation and the credibility of his message to how well his followers would display unity and oneness.  Read his prayer once more and think about how important unity is to him.  Is it equally important to you?” – Sande

“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 15:5-7

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” – I Corinthians 1:10

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:1-3

Endeavoring – “The Greek word that is translated “make every effort” in this passage means to strive eagerly, earnestly, and diligently.  It is a word that a trainer of gladiators might have used when he sent men to fight to the death in the Coliseum: “Make every effort to stay alive today!” So too must a Christian agonize for peace and unity.  Obviously, token efforts and halfhearted attempts at reconciliation fall far short of what Paul had in mind.” – Sande

“Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” – James 3:18

In conflict, we are to (1) trust God, (2) glorify God, and (3) be peacemakers.

Now, the Bible does give us a plan (a path of clear steps) in how to go about resolving conflict and seeking gospel grace reconciliation.  In this sermon series, we are going to look carefully at the gradual increase of steps of a clear gospel plan that God has laid out in His Word.  In this message, we only have time for considering step one.

Step One – Ask yourself some questions in light of these verses.  How big should this issue be to me personally?  Could I just put the issue that I have with my brother or sister and my personal hurt over this before the cross of Jesus?  Do I need to even talk to the one I feel hurt with about this?  Sometimes, in our hurt, we make things that are small very big.  And then we enlist others to join in on our hurt.  Maturity comes by how we can overlook personal offenses against us.

  • “Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm” (Proverbs 3:30).
  • “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins” (Proverbs 10:12).
  • “A fool’s wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame” (Proverbs 12:16).
  • “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32).
  • “The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts” (Proverbs 17:14).
  • “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression” (Proverbs 19:11).
  • “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears” (Proverbs 26:17).
  • “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).
  • “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things” (Romans 14:1).
  • “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (I Corinthians 13:4-7).
  • “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
  • “Bearing with another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:13).
  • “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” (I Peter 4:8-9).

If you are short-suffering with another person, how do you think that other person will naturally respond back toward you? Why are you so short-suffering with that other person?  Is God that way with you?  Look at what you have thought wrong or said wrong this past week.  Look at what you did that you shouldn’t have done or at what you should have done that you did not do.  Did you repent over every sin that you committed this past week?  If you haven’t repented over every offense this past week that you have committed, what has God done with those sins?  I will tell you.  It is His love that covers the multitude of your sins.  Such glory.  Such love that pours from the heart of our Father.  And it is up to you through the presence of Christ in your life to respond the same way to one another.

Prayer in Idaho Falls

Charles Barnes shares this week with us in Idaho Falls:

Praise

  1. For Jesus, our Peace; for His peace that surpasses all comprehension.
  2. For Jesus, the Light of the world, bringing hope and salvation and new life.
  3. For Jesus, King of kings, seated on a throne far above every rule and authority and power and dominion.
  4. For Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

Prayer Requests (adapted from The Power to Save, see below)

  1. For Idaho Falls to experience a revival in which we experience God’s power and presence.
  2. For Idaho Falls to experience a revival that is pure in both doctrine and practice.
  3. For wounds in the body of Christ to heal and bonds to grow strong.
  4. For a revival that will bring new life to Idaho Falls spiritually, morally and socially.
  5. That out of the revival would come a host of missionaries to the rest of the world.

The Power to Save

Bob Davey writes in the preface of The Power to Save – A History of the Gospel in China (EP Books, 2011), “This book tells the story, which is still unfolding, of the mighty acts of God in China – a story that needs to be told. It has become clear since the 1970s that God has done something special in China. The spiritual awakening and turning to Christ compare in magnitude to anything in the whole history of the church. … The gospel went to China and took root there because of the profound love and dedication of many Christians from all parts of the world. Their fundamental motivation was the power of the love of Christ that constrained them. Their goal was not political but spiritual – the salvation of souls and the planting of an indigenous, self-supporting church able to propagate itself by the power of the biblical gospel. That this has been achieved against all the powers of hell and in spite of much human weakness should be a matter of real encouragement to believers the world over….”

The story of the acts of God in Idaho Falls needs to be told as well. Though the population of Bonneville County is only 1/13,000th that of China, the people who live here are loved by God, and Christ’s church is His instrument through which His love is conveyed.

The first name of this place we now call Idaho Falls – Flathead Crossing – encapsulates the story of the hunger of a native American people for the gospel and for the “white-man’s book” which contained it. The first “missionary” who settled in Idaho Falls had intentions of going to China, but God sent her here and used her to establish the first church, the first school and the first library. One of the early churches in Idaho Falls, began in 1916 when the population of the town was only about 6,500, was formed by 107 charter members who were mostly won to Christ in two short evangelistic campaigns. The Lord has brought to us and raised up from among us many dedicated servants to build His church Idaho Falls. Many churches in town have had annual growth rates of 20-40% during their early years. At least three Idaho Falls churches have started other churches in the city and a few have planted churches in surrounding communities. God has raised up ministries that feed the poor, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, elderly and prisoners, preach the gospel, make disciples and seek to heal and deliver the oppressed in His name. His power has saved and transformed lives. The Lord has also sent out many from Idaho Falls to be His witnesses in many places of the world, including China.

But yet…

In our research we have yet to find anything comparable to current people movements to Christ among Muslim people groups , or the revival in China, or the revival that started a century ago in Korea, or anything that compares to early revivals in America. We haven’t found evidence of transformation of our society similar to what happened in the First or Second Great Awakenings in America or in various cities around the world more recently where the church has sought God in unity and desperation.

While many churches in town have seen periods of high growth, the net growth rate of the Christian churches combined has barely kept up with population growth.

While a few churches in town have successfully planted another church, more have been the result of church splits or divisions. No church plant that we know of has repeated the process, and the last church we’re aware of that was intentionally planted by another in town occurred in the 1960’s.

Has our faith in what God can do in Idaho Falls been tempered more by what we have experienced rather than what He promises? In the conclusion of his book, Bob Davey has five prayers related to continuation of the revival in China. I’ve modified these above as prayer requests for Idaho Falls.

Today’s local newspaper headline

The Post Register put on the front page of today’s local news an article by Rachel Zoll, AP Religion Writer.

Southern Baptists tell pastors to hold the line on gays

Rachel mentioned a number of people in what she wrote.  One lady is Rosaria Butterfield.

ERLC’s Lindsay Swartz interviewed Rosarie, published last month in this nine minute youtube video.

October gifts

(I extracted this from the online newsletter of First Lutheran in Idaho Falls.  It speaks volumes.)

Dear Ones of First Lutheran,

When October comes, many start planning for Halloween and Confirmation Sunday. Many are thinking about hunting, fall fishing, or last outdoor outings for the fall. I always come to October and think “Reformation! Thanks be to God.” You have a Bible in your hands, in your homes, in large part due to Martin Luther who protested (Protestant) for reform in his church which had fallen away from the truth. It was his questions, his doubts, his wonderings, his fear of judgment, his guilty conscience that eventually led him to study the Scriptures in both his church’s Latin Bible and the original Hebrew and Greek texts. As he discovered in his study that salvation was by faith in Jesus and not by works to be performed, he set out to share this Gospel discovery with his church – which wasn’t very receptive. He didn’t set out to destroy his church, but to reform it. They wouldn’t hear of it. They tried to bully him into submission. They tried to shame him into silence and going along to get along. But his study of the Scriptures had so calmed his conscience that he couldn’t give up the effort to proclaim the Gospel.

Eventually on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther had written up his 95 Theses and nailed them to the front door of his Wittenberg church. The theses were concerns about the state of the church, about which he wanted to enter into discussion with church leaders. The theses were taken as an unacceptable challenge to the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. In about 5 years Luther would be excommunicated from his church and hunted as an outlaw, wanted dead or alive. Thus, this day became the official beginning of the Reformation, from which the Lutheran and Protestant churches were formed.

The gift of the Scriptures that you can hold in your hands has come to each of us freely at great cost to others. You and I should never take the cost of this free gift for granted. Especially when it holds within its pages the story of a God who so loved sinners, like you and me, that he gave the life of his Son, Jesus, so that we can know a God of love, forgiveness, the promise of his Spirit’s presence in our lives and the gift of eternal life. Where else will you find such a story, such a promise, that blesses your life in such a way? Nowhere. You may very well find yourself being shamed for believing that it is true. Others may try to bully you into another way of thinking. Just know that when that happens, those who do that have lost the strength of their argument and are becoming desperate to force you into thinking their way. You will show your appreciation for all that others have gone through for you to hold a Bible in your hands, by opening it and reading the word the Lord has for you there. May we all be faithful in doing so. Lip service will not suffice. Open that book up and discover the treasure God has for you there. After all Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” A wonderful treasure indeed.

So, October. It’s Reformation Day Month. Thanks be to God.

Sincerely, Pastor Larry

Belief and Unbelief in America and Idaho Falls

This post is authored by Charles Barnes.

The front page story of the November 21, 2013 Post Register, Losing Faith, reported the growing number of atheists in America based on a 2012 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life report. The article told the story of one young man who had grown up a Mormon, gone on a two-year mission and attended BYU-Idaho, but then left his church. The rest of the article consisted of a few scattered statements about religion and atheism in eastern Idaho.

The complete 80-page report cited in the Post Register article is available for downloading or reading online at http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/#_ftn3. The religious trends in this report are based on annual surveys from 2007 to 2012 of an average of about 20,000 respondents per year (ranging from a low of 9,443 in 2007 to a high of 24,764 in 2010). This equates to less than one-hundredth of one percent of the American population. The survey results indicated: (more…)

The indestructible, eternal Root

There is a “Roots by the River” study tonight at Berean. Last week, we studied in the Bible over how mighty trees can be toppled.  I saw a resemblance of this yesterday morning while on a walk with a Christian brother along the Idaho Falls greenbelt.  On the riverbank, we observed a tree fallen down.  A beaver had chewed through the trunk the night before.

As America is experiencing an unsettling rootlessness, we will talk about the indestructible, eternal Root and how He applies to you. Come join us, 6:45 pm. Bring a friend.

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