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Like the new look?

Chris Leavell does a fantastic job for providing the color to this blog.

If I didn’t already live in Idaho, seeing the pictures that he puts on here would make me want to hightail it to this beautiful area of America.

Thanks Chris for reminding me how blessed I am.

An Encouraging Email – Please Eavesdrop!

I received this email yesterday in discussion on the Gospel. It smashes the curse of legalism that would seek to wrap its ugly claws around my heart and others in Idaho Falls. Permission has been granted by the sender to print this publicly. Believing the Gospel for both nonbeliever and believer transforms the Scream of the heart to an indescribable Song of the soul.

Dear Todd,

This is long, but I think it can be very encouraging to anyone who takes the time to read it. A few days ago you forwarded an excerpt on Romans 7. For years I have been seeing something there that few others seem to be pointing out. Tell me what you think:The book of Romans and Galatians are marvelously complementary. Their messages are very similar. Although Galatians is shorter, there are places in the book where it expounds on concepts introduced in Romans, and vice-versa. Galatians 3 is only one such place. Consider especially the “Schoolmaster” paragraph. A purpose of the Law is to bring men to Christ. (more…)

Heart Questions in Bloggernacle

I have enjoyed Jacob, Geoff, and Blake’s questions in a current thread over at the New Cool Thang.  I am always thankful for discussion beyond the superficial.  I am also thankful they take the time to interact with me.  As some would say in the world of blogging.  Cheers!

Jeff has asked about some good stuff in Hebrew 1.

And maybe, the backyard professor and I can do some parallel blogging on the upcoming Dead Sea Scroll exhibit in our hometown.  But will he appreciate the perspective of a Christian fundamentalist, one who takes the Bible at face value?

Neighborhood Survey 5 on John’s Gospel

Do you think Jesus was married?   

I was seeking to get 100 hundred responses this week to my question, but ended up with just 25 . . . too much bad weather and not enough time.  I did appreciate those who took a moment in the midst of the busy Christmas season to share their thoughts on this contemporary question. 

I don’t know to which faith people belonged—didn’t ask this week.  But here are the stats:

“No” – 8

“I don’t know” – 8 (some suggested it could be a good possibility because our lives are to be patterned after his life)

“Yes” – 7 (one woman referenced a volume, The Marriage of Jesus, that she saw long ago when in seminary . . . does anyone know about this book?)

“He had a female partner” – 2 (more…)

Decades ago, Duane S. Crowther on Ezekiel

Have you ever read anything by Duane Crowther?  Forty five years ago, Duane wrote the book, Prophecy: Key to the Future (SLC:  Bookcraft Publishers, 1962).

He quotes from Ezekiel in chapter 7, “Growth and Development in Zion and Palestine After the Era of Universal Conflict,” and in chapter 8, “The Battle of Armageddon and Christ’s Appearance on the Mount of Olives.”  Here are some highlights: (more…)

LDS Conversation on Ezekiel

Sunset

I love the book of Ezekiel, especially the opening vision of the throne chariot of God in the skies. Wow.

Where there is mostly just the sound of crickets chirping in the intermountain West instead of any discussion on this major prophetical book, Monte S. Nyman eagerly steps up to the plate on Ezekiel for LDS.

For introductions, Monte S. Nyman “has served as the director of the Edmonton (Canada) Institute of Religion, director of Mormon Studies in BYU’s Religious Studies Center, acting chairman of the Ancient Scripture Department, and associate dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. He has taught in twelve BYU study abroad programs in Jerusalem and has conducted many BYU tours to Israel and Central America for BYU travel study.” He “retired from BYU in 1996.”

“He is the author of four commentaries on Old Testament prophets, as well as two books on the Book of Mormon: An Ensign to All People and The Most Correct Book, The Book of Mormon. He has also been published in the Ensign and The Improvement Era.”

His most recent work is a 150 page paperback, entitled Abomination of Desolation – The Prophecies Of Daniel And Ezekiel In The Latter Days (Springville: Cedar Fort, Inc., 2006). (more…)