Andrew Jackson (Mormonism Explained, 2008) writes, (more…)

I listened to Richard, the former chairman for the building of the Rexburg Temple and bishop of the BYU-I First Stake, live this afternoon on KBYI.

He talked about friendships and Matthew 25:31-40.  He said he takes the scriptures literally, maybe too literally.  I wish he would have finished discussion of the verses in the chapter.  I was keenly interested.

After the devotional, the station allowed me to listen to Christopher Parkening and Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.  Listen to it.

Beautiful. 

I heard Christopher Parkening live in the Shepherd’s Conference last year at Grace Community Church in California.

Doesn’t the title send shivers up and down your spine?

We were in Genesis 25 last night before we broke up into groups for our prayer meeting.

• The age of Joseph Smith when he was murdered.
• The years it took before the Idaho Falls temple finally received its angel Moroni on top.
• My age.  The best part is yet to come.

Did you all catch that last night at the end of the Presidential debate?

I am telling you . . . this guy is a Democratic fundamentalist.  😉 

Of course, I am saying the same thing about religion in the I-15 Corridor.

We need fundamental change.

I don’t get too excited over political fundamentals, but I do over Christian biblical fundamentals.

We move from church steeples, to chapel pulpits, to Sunday dress.  And it is an appropriate topic, especially in light of the most recent General Conference.

Why do you put on a suit or dress each Sunday?  And do you know the historical origins of Sunday dress? 

Here is a plethora of LDS opinions on the topic:

BiV’s take on Sunday Dress (more…)

This past Sunday morning we learned – Jesus Christ has taught the gospel.  He has performed breathtaking signs over the course of three years.  And yet the people don’t believe (John 12:37). 

Astounding!

But Jesus is not surprised (Isaiah 53:1).  God judicially hardens peoples’ hearts (Isaiah 6).  Unbelief leads to greater unbelief.  This should terrify persistent unbelievers.  God will hide himself from them, where they can not believe.

And yet not all are in unbelief.  Some believe. 

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him

But notice the disclaimer:

but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue (John 12:42).

What kind of belief is this?  They fear religious excommunication and losing all their benefits, so they remain quiet.

It is a privatized faith.  But what true disciple of Jesus Christ stays secret?

I just saw Andy’s notes, today.  Somehow I missed this.  Very good.  Also, I overlooked Nick’s aftermath musings.  Of course, it is hard to keep up with Nick’s blaze of perpetual blogging on the Trinity.  But I am glad.

And what better is there to meditate on in the Intermountain West I-15 Corridor?  What better mountain is there to climb?

God captures all creaturely reasoning and imagination.

All is not well in our community.

On Friday, someone committed suicide right on a church’s front doorstep near Temple View Elementary School.

It fills me with grief.  I am praying.

It’s Saturday night.  First, the LDS Yellow Dart gets me thinking about monotheism as he quotes Larry Hurtado, and now Nick is priming the pump for my excitement and joy in God.

Sunday is coming!

I hunger to worship corporately the one God!  The discussion only fuels the fire for church family worship.  Tomorrow, it is seeing afresh this God in Genesis, Isaiah (ch. 6), and John’s Gospel (ch. 12).

There is only one glory worth getting excited over.  God’s glory alone. 

The agape love for men’s glory? – what a pitiful trap (John 12:43).