1. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate” (Gen. 3:6). Notice the roots of idolatry as you battle temptation in 2012.

2.  “And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden” (Gen. 3:8).  Sin is insanity.  Hiding from God?  Hiding from God is the eternal howl of hell.  To hide from God is to turn from pure love, joy, and peace.

3.  Who would have expected it?

• The Seed of the woman shall bruise your head (Gen. 3:15).
• From Bethlehem, the least among the rulers of Judah – “for out of you shall come a Ruler” (Matt. 2:6).
• “Out of Egypt I called My Son” (Matt. 2:15).
• “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matt. 2:23).

In 2012, Jesus will probably manifest His glory where you least expect.

4.  “They presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matt. 2:11).  In the Museum of Idaho, the latest exhibit reveals life-size magi on the second floor.  And there is a display discussion of these gifts.  I personally think that the gifts point to Jesus as the King, High Priest, and Savior.

5.  “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry” (Prov. 2:12).  John the Baptist declares the work of the Messiah: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:11-12).

What are you relying upon to be your salvation from judgment?  God told Noah, “Make yourself an ark of gopher wood” (Gen. 6:14). What will be your ark?

6. Trinitarian Glory – “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16-17)  To be in Christ is to have the Spirit and the full pleasure of the Father.

-taken from The NKJV Daily Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2004), you can pick one up at the Calvary Chapel Bookstore in Idaho Falls

Some pictures taken today at the museum in downtown Idaho Falls:

1. We enjoyed all the local and international nativity displays.

2.  I enjoyed chatting with prior Idaho Falls mayor, Linda Milam, in the gingerbread room.  The room contained some remarkable candy reproductions of local church buildings.

3.  My wife and I relished the live performance of sacred hymns by harpist Sarah Close.

4.  I loved the scripture proclamations on the museum wall announcing Jesus as the Savior of the Nations!

Beau has recently finished his undergrad degree with Moody Bible Institute.  Congratulations Beau!  This weekend, they will be moving to Southern California, where Beau will begin his studies for the Master of Divinity degree at Talbot Theological Seminary.  Our prayers are with them.

Baptist Church

[Jews at Berea] they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11)

Welcome to B.B.C.!  Through a careful study of God’s Word, we desire for this church to be place where people find Christ, learn Christ, love Christ, and live Christ.  May the Lord bless you today.

Sunday School – 9:30 am: Classes for (1) 4s & 5s; (2) 1st – 3rd, (3) 4th-6th; (4) junior high – high school; (5) adult class with Dallas Marcott – The Holiness of God (R.C. Sproul curriculum) (6) adult class with Mike Ghiglia and Paul Whittington – “Strategies in Evangelism”

Main Service – 11:00 am:  instrumental and singing prelude, reading of Psalm 150, announcements, prayer, congregational singing (“Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne”, “Good Christian Men, Rejoice”, “Go Tell It on the Mountain”, “Angels We Have Heard on High”, “O Come, All Ye Faithful”, and “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”), scripture reading (Malachi 4:8-10), offering,  song – As Long As You are Glorified, presentation of the new church directories and taking prayer requests from the church family, special prayer for Beau & Kimberly Floyd, conclusion with the Lord’s Table.

Theme Verse for 2012

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

This week’s memory verse

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)

This week’s Bible reading

• (1/1) Gen. 1:1-2:25, Ps. 1:1-6, Prov. 1:1-7, Matt. 1:1-25
• (1/2) Gen. 3:1-4:26, Ps. 2:1-6, Prov. 1:8-9, Matt. 2:1-23
• (1/3) Gen. 5:1-6:22, Ps. 2:7-12, Prov. 1:10-19, Matt. 3:1-17
• (1/4) Gen. 7:1-8:22, Ps. 3:1-4, Prov. 1:20-22, Matt. 4:1-25
• (1/5) Gen. 9:1-10:32, Ps. 3:5-8, Prov. 1:23-27, Matt. 5:1-26
• (1/6) Gen. 11:1-12:20, Ps. 4:1-3, Prov. 1:28-33, Matt. 5:27-48
• (1/7) Gen. 13:1-14:24, Ps. 4:4-8, Prov. 2:1-5, Matt. 6:1-18

This week’s discipleship and outreach

1. Monday, 7:00 am – men’s study in Zechariah at Bella Vita
2. Tuesday, 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm – men’s prayer meeting, downtown at the City of Refuge
3. Tuesday, 6:30 pm – evening boy scouts &  cub scouts
4. Wednesday, 1:00 pm – senior ladies’ study in Galatians (Kenney’s home)
5. Wednesday, 6:30 pm – Bible study at the church building
6. Wednesday, 6:30 pm – Patch the Pirate Club (kindergarten & elementary children)
7. Thursday, 6:30 am – Prayer meeting at the church building
8. Saturday, 7:00 am – Men’s Fellowship Breakfast

Coming Up

1. January 8 – Start up of Adult Sunday School Classes, afternoon ministry outreach at the Bonneville County Jail
2. January 20 – B.B.C. Ladies Winter Dinner
3. January 22 – Quarterly Potluck & Church Family Session (approving financial budget & leadership team for 2012)
4. January 27-28 – Prayer Advance for Christ’s Kingdom in our city
5. January 29 – 17th Anniversary of Berean Baptist Church

“Always the Word” – The desire of the Bereans in Idaho: let the written word run and be glorified so that all might gaze upon the living Word and be healed.

What adventure does the King have in store for us in 2012?

Idaho Falls Religion Links

Thoughts? 

 

Today’s Idaho Falls newspaper post in the Opinions page by Julia Carroll, a junior at Skyline High School – here are her musings:

America is a secular nation that resides in a secular world.  Though the country was founded on several different types of Christianity, for the most part, religion is not an all encompassing part of the life of a modern Christian.

However, this is often not the case for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

There has been heated political debate about Mormonism, specifically Republican Mitt Romney’s run for president.  Some Christians cry cult; Mormons cite the First Amendment.

Idaho, Utah and surrounding states are steeped in religious activity, mostly thanks to the LDS church.  For one who grew up here, it’s hard to imagine that on Sunday other places are just as busy as any other day of the week.  Because of our large Mormon population, we essentially live in a world apart from the rest of America.

The problem non-Mormons are wrestling with likely has little to do with the LDS religion itself, but rather the way it is practiced.  Mormons themselves insist their religion is an integral part of their everyday lives, and they seem to live up to those claims.  This sets Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman apart from many politicians, and probably is what leads to accusations of cultist behavior.  As a whole, Mormons are tight-knit and steadfast in their morals, for better or worse.

I don’t believe Mormons are “like everyone else,” the message the church is spreading across America.  If that were so, we would live in a very different kind of southeastern Idaho.  Yes, Mormons have regular jobs and lead their lives in the modern world, but in no other type of Christianity is religion so commonly and heavily enforced by a church and utilized by its members.

In no other religion is it commonplace for students to sacrifice an indispensable school credit to take a class that is essentially an hour of church every day.

In no other religion is it commonplace for adults to invite missionaries, whom they’ve never met before, to dinner.

These differences aren’t necessarily bad, but Mormons need to recognize that the non-Mormons of America may not be ready to accept that level of religious dedication.

No one should be banned from office because of religious beliefs, or lack thereof.  Votes will not only reflect, but also take care of any kind of serious opposition on such a scale.  No laws need be made, nor any mud slung.  Politics follow the times, and the times are more secular than religious.  What agrees with LDS doctrine may not always be the best thing for America.  The question gripping secular America by the throat is this:  Which would an LDS president choose? (emphasis mine)

1. Convicted rapist and killer, Paul Ezra Rhoades, is scheduled to be executed this morning.  Our local paper is pushing for the governor to grant clemency.  Corey Taule is saying that Butch Otter has abandoned his post by spending time at a junket in Maui from Sunday to Thursday.  Minister Darrell Taylor says this about Rhoades, “I do consider Paul Rhoades a Christian brother, and I love him as a Christian brother.”  I have been praying for both the manifestation of the holy judgment and salvation of God.
2. Today’s headline quote by Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez – “It’s not just a coincidence that I look like Jesus.  I am the modern-day Jesus Christ that you all have been waiting for.”  And he told people in Idaho Falls that President Barack Obama was “the devil” and “the Antichrist.”
3. The funeral for Jamie Pierre, the professing born-again Christian pro-skier, is tomorrow in Sandy, Utah.

 

Berean Baptist Church

[Jews at Berea] they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11)

Welcome to B.B.C.!  Through a careful study of God’s Word, we desire for this church to be place where people find Christ, learn Christ, love Christ, and live Christ.  May the Lord bless you today.

Sunday School – 9:30 am: Classes for (1) 4s & 5s; (2) 1st – 3rd, (3) 4th-6th; (4) junior high – high school; (5) adult class with Todd Wood – “Principles of Christian Growth”; (6) adult class with Paul Whittington – “Strategies in Evangelism”

Main Service – 10:45 am:  announcements, prayer (time of confession and thanks), singing (“Count Your Blessings”, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, “O Worship the King”, “Thank You, Jesus”, and “Thank You, Lord”), scripture reading (Malachi 3:1-6), offering,  guitar solo, and then a duet.

Concerning the evaluation of signs and wonders movements:

• There are periods of cessation.
• The believer must evaluate spiritual movements in terms of Scripture (Deut. 13:1-3, I John 4:1)
• The believer must examine fruit.  Has there been profit (I Cor. 12:7)? Edification (I Cor. 14:26)? Has the activity built up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12)?
• What does the Lord require of the believer? (Micah 6:8, Hebrews 11:6, I John 5:3)
• The ability to have genuine miraculous power is not a sure sign of spirituality or proof of God’s approval in one’s life.

Message Text: I Corinthians 12:12-26 – “The Body.  The One Body.  Church Body Dynamics.”

• There is one Body
• We all drink into one Spirit
• No member should consider himself or herself superior or inferior
• The members should get to know one another well enough for the proper care, in both suffering and rejoicing.  We bestow great honor to one of our members, Duane in the above picture.

Quote for musing:

As united to Christ in his incarnate reality the Church constitutes the sanctified community within which we may draw near to the Father through the Son and in the Spirit and share in the eternal life, light and love of God himself.  That was surely the primary truth embedded in the mind and worship of the Catholic Church in the fourth century, and was rightly given precedence over all questions of external form, organization and structure.  It was as they believed, the empirical Church that had been incorporated into Christ as his body, then the real structure of the Church as lodged in Christ himself, and had to be lived out in space and time through the union and communion with the risen, exalted and advent Lord whose kingdom will have no end. – Torrance

This week’s memory verse

The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. – Proverbs 11:3

This week’s Bible reading

• (11/13) Ez. 27:1-28:26, Heb. 11:17-31, Ps. 111:1-10, Prov. 27:15-16
• (11/14) Ez. 29:1-30:26, Heb. 11:32-12:13, Ps. 112:1-10, Prov. 27:17
• (11/15) Ez. 31:1-32:32, Heb. 12:14-29, Ps. 113:1-114:8, Prov. 27:18-20
• (11/16) Ez. 33:1-34:31, Heb. 13:1-25, Ps. 115:1-18, Prov. 27:21-22
• (11/17) Ez. 35:1-36:38, James 1:1-18, Ps. 116:1-19, Prov. 27:23-27
• (11/18) Ez. 37:1-38:23, James 1:19-2:17, Ps. 117:1-2, Prov. 28:1
• (11/19) Ez. 39:1-40:27, James 2:18-3:18, Ps. 118:1-18, Prov. 28:2

This week’s discipleship and outreach

1. Sunday, this afternoon, 2:00 pm – ministry at the Bonneville County Jail
2. Monday, 7:00 am – men’s study in Zechariah at Bella Vita
3. Tuesday, 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm – men’s prayer meeting, downtown at the City of Refuge
4. Tuesday evening boy scouts &  cub scouts
5. Wednesday, 1:00 pm – senior ladies’ study in Galatians (Kenney’s home)
6. Wednesday, 6:30 pm – inductive study in Malachi at the church building
7. Wednesday, 6:30 pm – Patch the Pirate Club (kindergarten & elementary children)
8. Thursday, 6:30 am – Prayer meeting at the church building
9. Thursday, 6:30 pm – Rock youth group
10. Saturday, 7:00 am – November deacons’ meeting
11. Saturday, 11:00 am – Keepers at Home girls’ club

Coming Up

1. November 20 – Thanksgiving Worship and Potluck
2. November 21 – Scout Pack Meeting
3. November 30 – Missionary speaker, Mike Flannery

“Always the Word” – The desire of the Bereans in Idaho: let the written word run and be glorified so that all might gaze upon the living Word and be healed.

1.  Christian men are invited to drop in at the City of Refuge for prayer, starting at the noon hour on Tuesdays.

2.  A sign message from Eagle Rock Baptist Church.

3.  Calvary Baptist has a new website.

4.  Christ Community is hosting Seventh Day Slumber, Saturday night, November 12th, 7:30 pm.

Berean Baptist Church

[Jews at Berea] they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11)

Welcome to B.B.C.!  Through a careful study of God’s Word, we desire for this church to be place where people find Christ, learn Christ, love Christ, and live Christ.  May the Lord bless you today.

Sunday School – 9:30 am: Classes for (1) 4s & 5s; (2) 1st – 3rd, (3) 4th-6th; (4) junior high – high school; (5) adult class with Todd Wood – “Principles of Christian Growth”; (6) adult class with Mike Ghiglia – “Strategies in Evangelism”

First Sunday of the Month:  Grace & Glory

Main Service – 10:45 am:  announcements, prayer, singing (“Behold Your God”, “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus”, “The Gospel Song”, “Thank You, Jesus”, “Thank You, Lord”), scripture reading (Malachi 2), offering,  9 member orchestra playing “Like a River Glorious”, instrumental & vocal – “The Mystery of the Cross”

Message Text: I Corinthians 12:8-11, “Be Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, ministering through the diversity of the gifts”

I. The lists of gifts: (1) I Corinthians 12:8-11, (2) I Corinthians 12:28-31, (3) Romans 12:6-8, (4) Ephesians 4:11, (5) I Peter 4:11

• These lists are not exhaustive.
• These lists do not put the most important at the top and the least important at the bottom.
• These lists eliminate self-glory.

II. Closer examination of the list of nine gifts in the Corinthian text

III.  Closing exhortations

• Stir up your gift.
• Don’t soap box on your particular agenda – let it be “As He wills”.
• Exercise your gift to please God and not in order to seek the applause of others.
• Be faithful.

Through the Spirit’s giving and empowering, you are displaying the visible Priesthood, Kingship, and Prophetic ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ on this earth and in Idaho Falls.  The community hears Jesus by what you say.  They see Jesus by what you do.  This week, may this city behold the grace and glory of Christ.

Conclusion:  The Lord’s Table and “The Communion Hymn”

This week’s memory verse

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be glory forever and ever.  Amen! – II Timothy 4:18

This week’s Bible reading

• (11/6) Ez. 14:12-16:42, Heb. 7:18-28, Ps. 106:1-12, Prov. 27:4-6
• (11/7) Ez. 16:43-17:24, Heb. 8:1-13, Ps. 106:13-31, Prov. 27:7-9
• (11/8) Ez. 18:1-19:14, Heb. 9:1-10, Ps. 106:32-48, Prov. 27:10
• (11/9) Ez. 20:1-49, Heb. 9:11-28, Ps. 107:1-43, Prov. 27:11
• (11/10) Ez. 21:1-22:31, Heb. 10:1-18, Ps. 108:1-13, Prov. 27:12
• (11/11) Ez. 23:1-49, Heb. 10:19-39, Ps. 109:1-31, Prov. 27:13
• (11/12) Ez. 24:1-26:21, Heb. 11:1-16, Ps. 110:1-7, Prov. 27:14

This week’s discipleship and outreach

1. First Sunday of the Month, today, we celebrate and worship at the Lord’s Table.
2. Monday, 7:00 am – men’s study in Zechariah at Bella Vita
3. Tuesday, 11:30 am – ladies’ (50+) luncheon at Mings
4. Tuesday, 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm – men’s prayer meeting, downtown at the City of Refuge
5. Tuesday evening boy scouts &  cub scouts
6. Wednesday, 1:00 pm – senior ladies’ study in Galatians (Kenney’s home)
7. Wednesday, 6:30 pm – inductive study in Malachi at the church building
8. Wednesday, 6:30 pm – Patch the Pirate Club (kindergarten & elementary children)
9. Thursday, 6:30 am – Prayer meeting at the church building
10. Thursday, 6:30 pm – Rock youth group

Coming Up

1. November 20 – Thanksgiving Worship and Potluck
2. November 21 – Scout Pack Meeting
3. November 30 – Missionary speaker, Mike Flannery

“Always the Word” – The desire of the Bereans in Idaho: let the written word run and be glorified so that all might gaze upon the living Word and be healed.