The Lord’s teaching for disciples in Idaho Falls
Read Matthew 5:1-8:34
 
Imagine that we hear the news in the Post Register that Jesus is sitting today on top of Taylor Mountain. Since there are thousands upon thousands in Idaho Falls who are no stranger to the name of Jesus, a mass multitude would be exiting the city limits to see and hear the Man.  Property owners at Mt. Taylor probably would grant permission to trek on their land. Slipping into our Klim snowmobile gear or grabbing our hunting jackets from Sportsman warehouse, we brave the freezing temperatures, drive to the base of Taylor, and slog up the hill in the snow.  Excitement and expectation mount in our hearts.
 
What would Jesus say to us in Idaho Falls? As we listen, His authoritative words completely turn upside down our cultural worldviews. He talks about the values of His Kingdom: poverty in spirit, mourning, meekness, hunger for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, and persecution. He looks into our hearts, exposing our anger, sexual lusts, family divisions, swearing, and vengeful retaliation.   He repeatedly shows to us where we break down in loving Him and others as we ought. He exhorts us to stop making our religious actions a big, hypocritical show before others when inwardly we harbor pride, unforgiveness, worry, and false judgments.
 
He pinpoints where we treasure our idols above Him. It’s excruciating to listen to His message. When He states, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven,” some shuffle their feet in the snow. Others nervously cough in the silence. Their warm breath can be seen in the cold air. Some tear themselves away from the King’s direct gaze and look down into the valley toward Idaho Falls.
 
Convicted by His words, choices confront us. Will we repent of our self-righteousness and cling solely in faith to His righteousness? Or we will head back with hard hearts to Idaho Falls, business as usual? He tells us that the storm is coming and that standing on the Rock is our only hope.
 

A new King and Kingdom in Idaho Falls

Read Matthew 1:1-4:25

Matthew is the first of the gospel writers to introduce us to the Messiah, a King whom the world has never seen before nor one whom any will surpass in the future.  His title is the Christ.  He comes to tell those of us in a fractured, decaying world about a new Kingdom.  It’s the Kingdom of heaven where perfect love, light, and unity flow from the three-Person’d eternal God.

In the opening chapters of Matthew, the world gets its first glimpse of the Trinity at the Jordan River:  Jesus is in the water, the Spirit descends in the form of a dove, and the Father’s voice booms from heaven.  God in the Person of Jesus has come.  His birth is the sunrise of human history.  The light has dawned.  The King of the Jews is here, bringing hope to us rabble-raising, stubborn, struggling, independent Idahoans.

Just as Idaho Falls has bridges over lava rock and asphalt, joining eastern and western neighborhoods, Jesus is the Bridge, reconciling God to man, literally making it possible to have God among us.   “God with us” – this is the meaning of Emmanuel.

Your sins separate you, isolate you, strip you from the real party, beat you down, and leave you bleeding and deserted in the sagebrush.  But Jesus was born to save you from your sins.  Look to Him with eyes of faith.  Let go of trying to do it on your own.  Stop pursuing the idols of vain pleasure.  Believe the gospel of the Kingdom.  Be healed.  As the forerunner, John the Baptist preaches repentance.  And then Jesus enters our world and commands us to repent.  Look to Jesus and live.

Turn from your own masquerade of lies to His truth.  Turn from your darkness to His light.  Turn from your lusts to His love.  Give up rebellion.  Forsake sin.  Jesus is sovereign King.  And His kingdom will be the last to stand.

Conference in Idaho Falls on the topic of the Trinity

I was having a dream last night about being in a conference on the Trinity (funny thing is that both of my daughters are in a teen rally presently hearing about the Trinity).  Then I woke up at 2:38 am.  So I decided to do a little digging on the internet.

Here is what I found:

So this morning, I decided to make the Valley of Vision prayer to the Trinity . . . my prayer of joy and worship for today.

My desire is that Berean Baptist Church host a conference on the Trinity in March 2014.  Consider your own curiosity.  Come and take a step with me into the mystery and majesty of God.

 

Trail Life USA – Idahoan Introduction

I have been investigating the new boys’ adventure-character-leadership program, Trail Life USA. I highly favor the name and art design. As an Idahoan, the marketing concept sparks my desire to be on the trail.

This morning, I introduced the Woodlands Trail, Navigators, and Adventurers to around 20 men in the Berean church family. I passed out brochures, discussed some basic themes, and fielded general questions. Certainly, the possibilities are endless.

Just recently, I took a group of teens up the Bannock Trail in the Grand Targhee Ski Resort. With a full 15 passenger van, we left Idaho Falls and spent a perfect morning on the mountain. From the base of the ski lift, it is a 2,000’ elevation gain as you hike 3.1 miles to the top. On the summit of Fred’s Mountain (Elevation 9,862’), you ooh and aah over the breathtaking view of the Teton Mountain Range.

Wild flowers are everywhere. And for entertainment, the Golden-mantled ground squirrel will scurry and scamper about to nibble on the lunch crumbs you accidentally drop to your feet. God’s glory is all around you.
And here is an extra bonus: you get to ride down the Dreamcatcher (quad lift) for free if you hike up!

I highly recommend the hike for all ages.

Hope to see you all on the trail in future days.

Smart phone

Think of the resources that we have in Idaho Falls: snow packing the high country, rivers teaming with fish, an aquifer storing water, fields growing food, lines pumping electricity, and parks filled with recreation. But with all these blessings, there is one resource that tops them all. Without Him, we would not have any of these benefits. The chief Executor of everything that you enjoy in town can be directly attributed to the Holy Spirit. All is dependent upon Him.

The Spirit is not simply a natural force or as some might claim – just a figment of the imagination originating from “holy rollers”. The Spirit is real. He is a Person. And He is God. He was sent by the Father to make our animals (Ps. 104:30). And get this: the Spirit was involved in making us (Job 33:4). Take a moment to thank Him. Without Him, we would not be here.

Some might think that the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is reserved only for the religious elite in town. Not true. He comes to you not by your personal merit or the strength of your will. Plain and simple, He is a gift accepted by faith (John 7:37; Acts 11:16-17; Rom. 5:5; I Cor. 2:12; 2 Cor. 5:5).

He is the most precious gift that believers have in Idaho Falls. Let Him lead you. Day by day. Moment by moment. He is so much better than your smart phone.

A blessed Berean in Idaho Falls,
Todd Wood

An open letter to the BSA Grand Teton Council in Idaho Falls

The Triune God of the universe is immutable, eternal, and full of wonder. As we have enjoyed various scouting activities (RiseUp Encampment, scouting camp, etc.) during the summer months in Southeastern Idaho, we get glimpses every day of the spectacular variety and the depth of detail in God’s creation. Yet we don’t have to look very far – one only need look inward – to see also the struggle with broken imperfections. In our changing world of religious self-expression and sexual, perverted preferences, it is nice to know that the God of the universe is set apart from His creation. If He were sinful like us, we would indeed have no hope. In our fallen humanity, the only hope is to look to the sinless Man, Jesus Christ, who bore the immense diversity of our sins and took the punishment that we deserved. This perfect Man is unparalleled beauty, glory, and power. How can God the Father be both just and the justifier of sinners? It’s because Jesus propitiates holy fire. Also, He redeems slaves. He reconciles enemies. He unifies brothers. And He is the King of a sweeping Kingdom. He extends the gift of God’s presence and Kingdom to you. It’s amazing grace. And you can enter this Kingdom by faith. Childlike faith.

Let us rise up. We need not sit, shackled in the dungeons of our own personal sin and remorse. And we don’t need to cower under the incessant cries of evil around us, whether coming from the low in dark corners of shacks or the elite in wealthy corridors. Neither do we need to accommodate the political winds of institutional hierarchy. In Christ, we are free. Let every boy in our country have the chance to see this no matter their race, religion, economics, or sinful struggles. Let them experience Christ. Let them rise up by faith through grace to be what God has initially created them to be.

In light of the 2013 BSA policy to normalize various sexual orientations among the young men in scout troops, Berean Baptist Church will not seek to recharter in 2014. This decision has nothing to do with accusations that we desire to not reach out to any boy who might have same sex attractions. The decision has everything to do with public politics seeking to aberrate on sexual orientation and in turn force us to redefine what is morally straight. When we have choices before us, we decide not to abide under leadership policies which shroud in obfuscation the light of conscience in duty to God and truth. We turn our hearts now to the God of grace and peace. May God’s Spirit give us wisdom and lead us to new alternatives in 2014. May the Lord capture and bless the hearts of our future men. And most of all, to the One who is the source of all good, may God be honored and glorified with our lives.

Unstoppable

I just finished the book of Acts this morning in my personal reading. I love how the book ends: “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”

The kingdom of God in Idaho Falls is unstoppable.

It sort of ties in with what I read yesterday in Proverbs: “There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD (YHWH)” (Proverbs 21:30).

YHWH, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is unstoppable.

a blessed Berean in this city,

Todd Wood