Today, my buddy and I did our second 100-mile run in our training for the LotoJa classic (Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming) coming up September 8, 2007.

Not too far from Heise along the South Fork of the Snake River, we parked our van on Highway 26.

Around 6:00 a.m., we put the pedal to the metal.  We had a goal—to reach the top of the Teton Pass (8,429 ft) near Jackson Hole, Wyoming and then bike back to Idaho.

A nice, challenging ride.  First, Pine Creek Pass after Swan Valley.  And then the granddaddy mountain Pass of the intermountain West to follow!

Coming back down the Teton Pass, we roared.  I have never in my life experienced anything like this.

In Victor, Idaho, we stopped in for the world-famous, thick huckleberry shakes.  The girl servers give you half-inch diameter straws to suck up the berries.  Incredible.

Personally, I believe that ice cream shakes are crucial for any athletic training.  How come this isn’t listed in the Deseret News Tips for the race?  It happened to be a key ingredient to my magical formula for running a marathon.  Works great for all cross-training.  Of course, when my buddy and I climb Mt. Rainer someday, maybe I can make homemade ice cream right on top the summit.  Sound good?

Lately, I have been devouring books on the Dead Sea Scrolls. The topic is of immense interest to me, in light of the Ink & Blood exhibit currently showing at the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls.

Last night, I just finished reading the book, What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls and Why Do They Matter? (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007) by David Noel Freedman and Pam Fox Kuhlken.

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I picked up these books on display in the Idaho Falls library.

1.  When God Was a Woman (Harcourt Brace & Company, 1976) by Merlin Stone

The author writes,

“This is not intended as an archaeological or historical text.  It is rather an invitation to all women to join in the search to find out who we really are, by beginning to know our own past heritage as more than a broken and buried fragment of a male culture” (xxv).

“In the beginning, people prayed to the Creatress of Life, the Mistress of Heaven.  At the very dawn of religion, God was a woman.  Do you remember?” (1) (more…)

Brad speaks on ecumenical evangelism.  But I am deeply grieved by Luis Palau’s ecumenical tactics and even worse, the superficial believism — say a prayer and fill out a card. (more…)

Last week, my family, all six of us, slept in an old tent frame cabin up at Red Cliff Bible Camp.  We attended a July 4^th weekend retreat and had a blast, eating the best food in the intermountain West, gazing at beautiful scenery, and fellowshipping with wonderful Christians.  I enjoyed Andrew Garland on the summer camp staff discussing his blog and photography.  I rubbed shoulders with preachers and evangelists, Dan Hadick, Ron Van Hee (pastor in Rock Springs, WY), Chuck Crabtree (evangelist), Jay Sprecher (church planter in Thayne, WY), Bob Harris (church planter in Boise, Idaho), Colan Deatherage (pastor in Pocatello, Idaho), Ron Ehmann (director of Northwest Baptist Missions), Steve Pitchford (pastor in Pinedale, WY), and Jason Janz (founder of SI and new church planter in Denver, CO), etc. (more…)

First, I read the news from the Reformed Baptist Thinker.

And now Morehead’s Musings.

I felt deeply shafted by Mouw and Millet.  Is Mouw honest about evangelical Calvinistic doctrine?  Is Millet honest about orthodox Mormon doctrine?  I am just a Southeastern Idaho homeboy.  But even a homeboy can see elephants under the carpet.

Right here and here.

Though the name comes from here, I did enjoy “liberty field” a half mile from my house.

Thanks.

Graeme Goldsworthy in his book, Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Literature (2000) provides five biblical propositions:

1.  The Bible is the Word of the One God

2.  The Bible Is the One Word of God

3.  The Bible Is the Word of God about the One Way of Salvation

4.  The Bible is the One Written Word of God about the Way of Salvation

5.  The Bible Is Therefore a Book about Christ

The author’s burden is to motivate evangelical pastors toward a more “consistently Christ-centered approach to all their sermons.”

But will this fly among American Christian leaders? 

“How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy” – Thomas Jefferson

To celebrate, here are some highlights in Idaho Falls.  All day long, there will be the Liberty Festival on the Falls along Memorial Drive downtown.

Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, will mingle with the crowd during the afternoon.  Tonight, starting at 7:15 p.m., you may even get your picture with the Presidential candidate for $100 a pop.

At 10 p.m., the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration will light the skies on fire in dazzling color.  This is the biggest fireworks demonstration west of the Mississippi.  No joke.

Sincerely to all.  Have a great day with your family.