As I finished browsing this post, it’s time for more laughter before I hit the bed tonight.

Seth, once upon a time, I did play the evil villain in a melodrama.

But it was tough acting.

The girls thought I was way too nice.  Too shy.  And too stupid.  And that was clear back in sixth grade in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  But sixth grade is where I met my wife in this great town.

Idaho Falls, Idaho has doubled its population tonight for the biggest fireworks extravaganza west of the Mississippi!

It is not about cosmopolitanism, tonight.  It is not about global faith or expressing concerns.  It is all about patriotism.

Who is patriotic?

Just come to Idaho Falls.  LDS Frank Vandersloot is leading the way for patriotic celebration in the West.  The banks of the Snake River are completely jammed with thousands upon thousands of people. 

Happy July 4th everyone!

As reported by World magazine (July 4, 2009):

Some of Utah’s prohibition-minded alcohol laws will be officially loosened today.  Beer lovers may celebrate the rift in the so-called “Zion Curtain” that has up until this day prohibited bars from operating normally in Utah, as establishments will be able to serve alcohol to customers without first making them join a “private club.”  The state’s traditional hard line on alcohol can be traced directly to the Mormon Church, which frowns upon alcohol consumption.

Does that mean when John Calvin’s 500th birthday arrives on July 10, more people in Utah will give a toast?

(For the readers’ curiosity, I will pass on the Calvinus Beer.)

I just finished reading one of the latest emergent missional books, ReJesus.

In the book, the authors trash on one of my favorite pictures of Jesus on pages 92-95, dubbing it “The Bearded-Lady Jesus.”  To counter their observations, I am joyfully headed to Oregon in August to pick up from my grandparent’s estate a large framed print of this picture.

But one thing I will say well about the authors of this book – they maintain biblical monotheism, preferring the term, ethical monotheism.

Here is a good quote by Paul Minear:

Monotheism is a outcome of the exclusive claim of Yahweh, rather than a conceptual hypothesis resulting from human effort to gain a unitary view of his world.

In not getting this right, religious zeal causes massive damage to a cultural landscape.

Right here.

I looked to see if I could recognize any of the names.  Any from Southeastern Idaho?  What about Bloggernacle?

What do you think of the scenery?  My sister gets to see this view every day from her living room bay window.

She doesn’t go to the church across the street.  Her husband is a Baptist minister.

Here is their missionary church in Rexburg:

Saturday setup for a chuckwagon feast

inside worship area

You all must meet my brother-in-law.  He is great.

Have you browsed his latest book, The Evolution of God  (Little, Brown and Company, 2009) and noticed what he said about Mormonism?

“It may sound cynical to explain the growth of a religion, especially a religion of love, in crass commercial terms, as though religions were mere networking services.  But such practical functions play some role in the power of religion even today.  The Mormon church, whose growth role has been compared to that of early Christianity, is a smooth conduit of commercial contact.”

(1) Wright uses Stark, who is over the top,  for LDS growth role comparison to the early Christianity.  (2)  Do many other religious scholars think that Mormonism is a commercial networking service?  (3)  Do you agree with Wright’s beliefs about the evolution of God(s)?

BYU shares the news.

HT: Thomas

That is quite an LDS scholarly achievement.  I remember listening to Don lecture on the Dead Sea Scrolls  at a local Methodist church here in Idaho Falls.  I noted some of his biases in the thread following the report on his lecture.  And I would assume that his biases are probably right within the main consensus of the scholars working on the new BHQ.

1.  My sister wrote a small post on our father, and she included a nice pic.  A Christian father is a wonderful gift from heaven.

2.  My wife and four children spoiled me this weekend.

3.  Also this weekend, I watched The Elizabeth Smart Story (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment, 2008).  It helped me imagine a little more what this LDS father went through.  As I watched this portrayal, I don’t think I would have been as kind to the Salt Lake City police.

Jesus obeyed completely the will of His Father.  He taught only what His Father wanted Him to teach.  The record of John’s Gospel is clear and beautiful on the perfect, sinless example of the Son.

This Son was not equal with His Father for only a mortal time in the work of His salvific subordination.  But make no mistake about this on Father’s Day:  The Son is equal to the Father.

And of course, we are never an equal to the Son.  I am made a friend to Jesus Christ.  This is amazing grace.  But I will never be an equal to the Son.  He always gives the commands.  John’s Gospel also makes this very clear.

And with tomorrow soon to be . . .

Happy Father’s Day to all.