Articles by Paul

Freedom of Speech

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UPDATED at 10:40AM Mountain Time: If you have to chose between articles to read on this issue choose this one at Desiring God. Well put and worth reading: This is Not Worth Quacking About. _________________________________________
My original post:

I’m a day late on the big A&E vs. Phil Robertson (Duck Dynasty) buzz. I have to admit that I actually don’t watch Duck Dynasty, not because it doesn’t have its merits, I just don’t pay money for TV. When I opened my Twitter and Facebook accounts this morning this was the topic of the day, yesterday and today. So, I’ve been busy catching up on the issue. After reading a few articles, I’ve decided that there is some misunderstanding about freedom of speech. I’ll agree with many that the decision to suspend Phil Robertson from the show seems to be a bad move by A&E. Then again, it’s their network.

It’s a good thing that we live in a country where a private company can say what they want. I respect that an owner of a company like Chick-fil-A has the right to freely speak and keep his business. I like that Hobby Lobby can stand against the government about health care requirements that violate their religious views. I like that Starbucks can say they don’t care about the market share of conservative Christians who believe the Bible and are allowed to stay in business after they say that. That’s a good thing.

No one is keeping Phil Robertson from speaking. I just read the article from the Chicago Tribune. No one is even censoring what he said… They are quoting him. No one has told Phil Robertson that he is no longer allowed to talk. As a matter of fact, I suspect that he will have more opportunities to talk than ever before. America, unless providentially hindered by God, you will hear (uncensored) Phil Robertson again.

Here raised a few thoughts for me. This decision by A&E will likely not cut into the market share of Duck Dynasty. Supporters will speak out, and have been. A&E has a right to air what they want within their legal privileges and contractual agreements to the preferences of their own market-share watching audience. I don’t watch A&E because I don’t pay for TV. I’m not offended that A&E did this.

No born-again believer, who’s reading their Bible, should be shocked. And yet every American citizen should be watching how this freedom of speech issue pans out in the end. Thus far, this is a private market issue. When it becomes a government issue is when your wide-eyed attention should not leave the issue alone.

This past month a cake baker in Colorado is facing government sanctions, fines and potential jail time if he doesn’t bake a wedding cake for a homosexual wedding in a state where homosexual weddings are illegal, at least for now. The court order, according the NBC, reports that the baker must “cease and desist from discriminating” against homosexuals.

For the past year and a half an American citizen, pastor, has been in an Iranian jail with little government intervention. These are issues that are of greater interest for me. When a government acts against or ignores the rights of my fellow countrymen my eyes look to the heavens. It is at this point that all Americans should have concern, all Americans.

I respect and appreciated seeing the support for Phil Roberson, I support his right to speak too. I expect him to continue to speak. I’ll hope that God will continue to bless their industry with success. But rest assured, no one has removed his liberty to speak. As a matter of fact the Chicago Tribune article cited the GQ interview that is due to be on magazine racks in January. I went and read the GQ article, there was little, if any, censoring of speech going on. I can’t reference it without warning the reader to be aware, there is some language issues that may not be appropriate for all ages.  

Finally, I am watching this unfold with interest. I think it shows the Bible believer of the disdain of the carnal world for the things of God. Be aware, be prepared, there may be a moment for you to speak the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in the most unexpected day as you advance the Gospel banner. There is an enemy of the cross. He is strong, but not stronger.

Don’t forget, faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is a baker in Colorado facing government sanctions because he’s acting on conviction. Don’t forget, professor of Christianity, there is an American citizen, pastor, in jail in Iran, he’s been there for 18 silent months. Don’t forget, bible-reading God worshiper, we are warned of an enemy of the cross. When you speak out in support of a celebrity Christian who has a voice don’t forget the suffering faithful who are easily forgotten because they are not allowed a voice.

Milk Mustache Monday

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ProviderFarmsMild

If you are not aware of this opportunity yet, you should consider it. On Monday’s, Provider Farms LLC deliver fresh farm items from their farm to the parking lot of Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls. Renee and I will be enjoying this delivery with joy.

You should check out their website here and place an order for next week. Then you can share your milk mustache photo with me next week. We’ll make Monday’s, Milk Mustache Monday. Email me your best milk mustache photo and I’ll share it here on Milk Mustache Monday. (It doesn’t have to be a milk mustache from Provider Farms, but why not…)

email your photo to (idahopaul (at) gmail (dot) com)

(Share this post with your friends)

Prayer Was Being Made Fervently By The Church

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“So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.” (Acts 12:5 NASB)

The practice of the church fervently praying to God for imprisoned brothers for gospel work was practiced by the first century church. While the church that is suffering rarely has a hard time ‘fervently praying’, the church at peace with sin or in sin rarely even thinks of praying at all.

The commands to be devoted to prayer are found often in Scripture. Evidence of the church gathering together in common places for regular times of prayer is modeled with as much frequency.

Tonight, the saints are encouraged to gather at 204 Eastland Drive North in Twin Falls for prayer. We have many things to ask of God, but this one matter of pastor Saeed Abedini remains a primary matter.

Where I have no idea of what Saeed is facing in the Iranian prison, I thought I would attempt to share a few things this afternoon for the Lord’s people to consider as we gather in places of prayer over the next few hours and days. I apologize to all the suffering saints in chains because of the gospel today if I come across trivial or make light of your suffering. I do not think that there is any comparison to be done with fairness and justice from a Haitian jail to prison conditions in Iran.  So as you continue to read, know that I’m not saying this is what it is like for any other brother in Christ, in any other place of the world.

Don’t be fooled. Jail conditions in most places in the rest of the world is nothing like a college dorm room.

  • If a bed is even available, it is likely been soiled many times before.
  • Electricity is likely not available most of the time if even at all.
    • Meaning that hot days are very hot
    • Cold nights are very cold
    • darkness is unimaginable.
  • A private cell is a rare physical luxury.
  • Access to fresh drinking water, as you and I would think of, is likely not accessible at will.
  • Rodents frequent and reside in garbage bins that are left rarely emptied.
  • Plumbing conditions are at risk of not working and causing many unsanitary problems.
  • Personal belonging are at risk of being stolen.
  • Physical safety is a grave problem.
  • Some jailers are at times enticed with bribery to allow injustice.
  • Nutritious food is not given in some places.
  • Days are difficult as they appear to move slowly.
  • Night: time seems to nearly stand still as you await for sunlight. For me, nights were among the most difficult as my body would long for comfort and rest and my mind would journey into depths of self-pity, but at the same time some of the sweetest moments with God I have ever had to this day.

JailHoleOne may argue this a fitting condition for murderers or child molesters. But don’t let your civil rights blood overcome you. A mystery most Christians in a free state have no concept of… This place of wretchedness that pastor Saeed is in is peculiarly ordained from the throne room of Heaven as a place that this King of Glory is shown as a matchless King in all the universe. It makes no sense does it? Yet the bible says we are “always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2 Cor 4:10-11 NASB) This is even called a “momentary, light affliction” and “is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor 4:17-18 NASB)

The scoffer may pontificate then that Christians should not pray for the release of Christians in jail because of their faith. The argument I’m making is not that these conditions should be hoped for or that one can not reflect the glory of God unless they suffer in this way. My reason for writing this and reflecting today is to show the conditions to the Lord’s people who don’t know of the urgency in which we are called to pray for the suffering saints.

Being aware of the conditions that pastor Saeed is in should cause the church to be fervently praying. The awareness that this plight of our brother is ordained by God should direct us how to pray.

Pray, yes, that he might be released.

But more so, pray that he endure with joy in the Lord. Pray that God will grant him strength to persevere. Pray that God will cause Saeed and his family to set their hope in the Lord. Pray for visitations from brave brothers in the region that they may be able to reach Saeed with news from his Master to press on.

Pray dear church, pray! What ever you do, don’t stop praying! Don’t pray like a hopeless coward, pray as one praying to Almighty God. Don’t pray out of sentimentality, don’t pray according to your fleshly cravings. Pray as a warrior in a battlefield obeying his commanding general… “Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer.” Romans 12:12 (NASB)

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Lazy Glutton

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Can there be anything worse than being called a glutton? Apparently so. How about a “lazy glutton”?

I suppose as the new year approaches many of the local gyms will begin to cash in on appealing to the “lazy gluttons” who will pay big bucks for an annual gym membership that will only get used for a few weeks. Do they expect “normal” gluttons to use their gym membership more than the “lazy gluttons”? I wonder if there is a price break if you sign up under the “lazy glutton” plan?

Likely no…

I like to be refreshed and reminded of biblical standards for elders/bishops/pastors/shepherds on a regular basis. A way of attempting to stay spiritually fit for the duties I have. Today I was reading this passage from Titus and was more struck by the qualifier “lazy” than ever before.

Then I began to look at all of the adjectives. The Text became very uncomfortable. Because I’m a poor grammarian I hesitate to put the exercise in print but I’ll attempt.

Titus Chapter One, verses ten through sixteen reads like this…

10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (NASB)

I’ll first take out all the qualifiers and just read the text. This is an exercise I use in personal study that helps me see how strong the text becomes with the adjectives.

10 For there are men, 11 who must be silenced, 11 teaching things they should not teach. 12 One of themselves said, “Cretans are liars, beasts, gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him.

I then read this again and begin to put the adjective back (I’m sure I missed some and didn’t see some.) But this is what began to happen as I read this again.

Paul wasn’t telling Titus that [some] men must be silenced or that all men must be silenced. But that there were many men who were rebellious [and would refuse to recognize the spiritual authority of the elders in the church] who must be silenced.  Wow.

These rebellious men were empty talkers and deceivers. Meaning, by talking with impressive words they were able to say things that meant nothing and empty of any clarity and by doing so, theses rebellious men were able to deceive. (I’ll examine who they were able to deceive later.) There’s more about these men though, Paul isn’t done describing who these rebellious, empty-talking, deceivers are. Most of them [many] are of the circumcision. Meaning Jews and/or self-righteous and  were rebelling against the Lord’s elect with empty words with the intent to deceive. Meaning further, they knew what they were doing. They knew that if they were going to deceive others they would have to do so with language that was familiar but lacking clarity and with fuzzy definitions in order to deceive; in order to get a following; in order to continue practicing their sin without being exposed to others as weak spiritually.

As Paul identified who these men were and addressed some of their motives, it then makes sense why he instructs Titus that they must be silenced. This goes back to who these rebellious, empty-talking, deceivers were upsetting; [whole families]. They [must] be silenced. Not because they are doing right but because they are leading [whole families] away from truth (they are deceivers after all) with teachings (doctrines) that have no place in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ to get personal, prideful gain.

Then the apostle identified one of these  rebellious, empty-talking, deceivers and exposes him with his own philosophy that carried truth, but likely didn’t want Paul exposing the entire truth.

When Paul said that their testimony of the Cretans was true he wasn’t saying it as a racial or ethnic attack. He was explaining to Titus that the Cretans’  sin nature had to be confronted and reproved so that they may be sound in the faith. They were not only liars, they were always liars. They were not only beasts, they were evil beast. They were not only gluttons, they were lazy gluttons. These rebellious, empty-talking, deceivers were not looking to bring the Cretans into light with the gospel, they wanted to leave them in their sinful state to continue proving how righteous they were compared to the Cretans. If they can say what is true about others without having to say what is true about themselves then they are able to win over whole families

The attention gets laid back to the Rebellious, empty talking, deceivers. When the apostle Paul finishes testifying to Titus that this is true not only of the Cretans, the Rebellious, empty-talking, deceivers, but by implication true of all natural men.

Spiritual men must not give ear Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth, namely the rebellious, empty-talking, deceivers. They are defiled and unbelieving. Yet they are left in leadership role in churches. To them, the only thing pure or true is what they claim to be pure and true. Proving that both their mind and their consciences are diseased. They make claim to know the mind of God, but their actual behavior denies their claim. They are obviously Rebels, empty-talkers, and deceivers. In every effort to do good they prove to be frauds. They are being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

WOW!

Arise, church of the Lord Jesus Christ and be the church. Put off your rebellious, empty-talking, deceiving ways. Put on His righteousness and go forth as obedient slaves, speaking words of life, leading many to truth.

Provider Farms, LLC

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Let me introduce you to a friend of mine. I first met Todd at the Fatherhood Academy we hosted at Eastside Baptist Church this past fall. Todd and his family run a family business in the Mtn Home area. They have several customers now in the Twin Falls area and are delivering some of their fresh farm products to the region. On Monday’s they will be set up in the parking lot of Eastside Baptist Church’s meetinghouse (204 Eastland Drive North) from 2-2:30PM.

You should visit their website and see what they have to offer. Here is a link to the products they currently deliver to the Twin Falls area

 

Provider Farms, LLC

You Were Called For Better Things

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Where are the young followers of God who will put away the irreverent? Where are the older saints who will not give themselves to silly myths? Arise, church.

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. (1 Timothy 4:7a)

rather than giving yourself to temporal ways and means or fables…

“see that [other believers] look up to you because you are an example to them in your speech and behavior, in your love and faith and sincerity. Concentrate until my arrival on your reading and on your preaching and teaching… Give your whole attention, all your energies, to these things, so that your progress is plain for all to see. Keep a critical eye both upon your own life and on the teaching you give, and if you continue to follow the line I have indicated you will not only save your own soul but the souls of many of your hearers as well. (1 Timothy 4:12-16 Phillips)

Who has convinced so many in the church that it’s alright for professing believers to give themselves to such silly, irreverent ways?

I’ve grown to understand that it may be less of someone convincing us of such lifestyles and more of a work of silence from fathers, mothers, spouses and preachers on the matters that Paul is speaking to Timothy of.

Most people, young and old, in churches don’t know how dangerous it is to flirt with fleshly means and ways. Christian, if you love the world and its irreverent, silly myths so much that you don’t display any noticeable contrast from the world, then be afraid. Repent. You were called by God for better things.

the Gospel

 

Recent Rap-Music Discussion

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After nearly three months of preaching First Corinthians I’m convinced that enemy number one to the gospel is pride. The number one enemy of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is pride. The number one enemy of my family is the laziness that pride produces. The number one reason that keeps the Lord’s people at odds with each other is because we are too prideful to acknowledge we have pride ruling our lives.

The apostle’s relentless message is the that pride must be destroyed, and that man is not capable of defeating this foe. And further reason why he makes it his only duty to preach the gospel, always putting the cross in front of the church. The sermon I preach to myself must always be with the cross, the death and the resurrection in sight. If not, I give hope to pride.

Pride is a relentless monster that blinds all of us from seeing what God wants us to see. Pride causes us to be offended when a brother calls a brother out for his sinful action rather than see the offense we are to God. It even causes us to justify our actions and preferences as pleasing to God.

If you don’t believe me, take a simple self examination of your Facebook, Istagram, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest etc…

Did you do it? If so, did you see how infatuated you are with yourself? Most of us have no idea what kind of monster we are dealing with here. Unrestrained, unchecked, uncorrected, unprotected… you are one failed bridge away from a train-wreck. You post your moral compass one moment, a favorite music video with questionable content the next, quote a Scripture verse here, then post your provocative invitation with your sultry glance into the lens as you instantly post the self portrait. Then… some stranger, neighbor, family member, coworker, classmate, church member, predator is lurking around on his/her keyboard waiting with baited breath for that next picture posted of any nearly-dressed person in the bathroom mirror.

As a father of boys, they didn’t have any online account without my full access. If I were a father of teenage girls, I would monitor their computers, phones, and social accounts like a guard of the most treasured resource on the planet, because someone is waiting for a moment to devour her innocence. As a husband, I am interested in every public and private conversation my wife has. Not because I don’t trust her, but because I don’t trust the rebel of God in the heart of man that leaves his life open to the control of pride.

Wow, that’s not even the point of my post this Friday evening.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend an organization I have a lot of respect for (National Center for Family Integrated Churches) posted a video of a panel discussion that nearly instantly provoked a civil war within Christendom. Like some, I thought some of the comments by the panel were out of order and inappropriate. But this was a very small representation of the topic of the conference so I listened with awareness of what was going on. Some of the comments were clearly not seasoned with grace or displayed a lack of integrity (panel discussion). But what was being said about them (the brothers on the panel) by some, was equally lacking of grace or integrity. All of this was unfolding while a watching world watched professing followers of Christ turn on each other and even hearing believers speak with disdain against each other.

Just yesterday, James White hosted a video podcast to further the conversation. I thought the conversation was helpful. This kind of discussion should happen more often. This will likely help bridge and begin healing some unfortunate damage done among brothers. (if you take the time to listen in, pay close attention to Voddie Baucham and Shai Linne)

With all of this debate, little attention has been given to the humble apologies from the panel guests who offended many. Here, Scott Brown offers as clear of an apology as has been offered in recent years. Christianity is not marked by music style. Christians, rather, are labeled “ambassadors of reconciliation”. Some of the most humble apologies I’ve ever heard uttered from brothers have come out in the past few days. Yet most want to continue to fight for their right to be offended. Many can’t even hear the humiliation being spoken because they are still feeding the monster of pride ruling their lives. The fight against the gospel message is still waged. Salvation may have come, but liberty from the old man is yet to be tasted. Mainly because we have not yet put to death the pleasures (personal preferences) that wage war. (see James 4:1-3) Harder than genuinely apologizing, is genuinely forgiving that humble apologizer.

At some point we all have to realize that worship of God is regulated by righteous God. He is the one who regulates what he calls acceptable worship or unacceptable. He is the one who declares someone a mighty warrior or a “disobedient coward”.  If He doesn’t do this then we will always battle the “worship wars”. I can only know the mind of Christ when I’ve been concurred by the gospel. Until then, I’ll always attempt to defend what I think is acceptable and not even see that I may be offending God.

Obviously believers are far from perfect in speech and action. Case and point, I turn to exibit A “PAUL THOMPSON”, That’s all that needs to be said about exibit A. It gets pretty ugly after we just mention exhibit A.

Oh that my old man might finally be slain. This public shame is proving to be a great teacher of reconciliation to this man who is always wrestling with pride. (Oh, be careful little tongue what you say…)

For now, I have some evaluating to do of my social networking activity.

Saeed Abedini Update

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Saeed_Abedini_ACLJ_story-4X3According to the ACLJ, Naghmeh Abedini, pastor Saeed’s wife, will speak before a joint subcommittee hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, December 12th at 9:30AM (Eastern).

May the Lord’s people continue to plead Saeed’s case before the Almighty.

Join Eastside (or your home church) on Wednesday night, December 11, at 6:30PM for corporate prayer.

#freesaeed

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