I am sporting a beard.  Would you like to see my latest pic?

Does this distinguish me from approximately the 100 LDS bishops in the area? 🙂

Kevin DeYoung and Tullian Tchividjian had an important conversation this spring.

Where do you stand on the relationship of justification and sanctification?

What do think is the position of the LDS General Authorities?

• Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, Arco, Idaho
• Bottolfsen Park
• Presenters – John Paul Moody “World Predator Calling Champion”, Chuck Buck – Buck Knives, Bryon L. Tabor – one of the country’s most skilled archers
• Custom knife makers, skilled fly casters, old-time mountain man tools and skills, falconers, etc.
• Christian and family value themes
• 9:30 – 4:30
• Contact info:  Jackie Harwood – jharwood@ida.net, Steve Cote – 208-527-3975, Chuck McKee – 527-2646

I received in the mail yesterday a hard copy of the new Credenda agenda (Spring/Summer 2011).

This is a salvation that brings us to the Father.  We are taught to pray to our Father, in Heaven.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, but we never forget He is the way to the Father.  We are ushered into a divine unity and fellowship on the basis of what Jesus has done for us.  The Father is our destination, Jesus is the road, and the Spirit carries us down that road.  Because we are forgiven, and only because we are forgiven, we can know that God is triune.  Because we are forgiven, we may partake of the divine life and nature.  But we belong to Him by grace, and not by any inherent natural power of ours.  We are united to Him in truth, and forever, but He is always the Creator, and we are always the creatures.  Grace stupefies.

– Douglas Wilson

Are you guys all headed to The Grace Agenda conference, September 16-17?

Yesterday, my son, Joshua, got to drive both of these classics.  A ’66.  And a ’59.

Ex-LDS are already starting to publish books about Mitt Romney. 

Should I as Baptist preacher publish a book about Mitt?  No, I think I will pass.  Wouldn’t writing a book about the Lord Jesus be far better for me and my LDS friends?

Mark Noll begins the discussion with that title for his essay.

So readers, after perusing my blog (for some of you – it’s been 5+ years), what kind of Baptist do you think I am? 🙂

In Southeastern Idaho, we talk about theosis.

In Blackfoot, Idaho, Dan Cravens takes a shot in our news for seeking to connect “theosis” and Joseph Smith with the early church fathers.  But I am not convinced.  Are you?  One defender of the Judea-Christian tradition shares with you some of his thoughts  on our discussion in S.E. Idaho.

Joel seeks to connect Mormonism with an altogether different tradition than that of the early church fathers.

There were two events yesterday that could easily bring tears to a grown man’s face: 

1. Listening to “Amazing Grace” played by the Idaho Falls Firefighters Pipes and Drums in the morning parade.
2. Listening to “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” just before the grand finale of the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration.  I was looking at the flag fluttering on top of Shilo Inn.  I was also watching the bombs bursting.  And I was listening to my wife singing with the loudspeakers,

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.