Isaiah 44:1-5
Articles by Paul
Church Arise – Final Session
Church Arise – Day Three
Church Arise – Day Two Evening Session
Church Arise: Day Two
The Other Side of the Windows
Like you, virtually everything changed that day.
I was a new pastor, I was a young pastor, my children were young.
I was at a conference in Utah with other pastors when we were informed the remainder of the gathering had been cancelled. We all immediately returned home to be with our families. I called Renee to let her know I was on the way and she would keep the boys home until I arrived.
There were many days filled with unclear knowledge about what had just happened. Prayer meetings were full, I walked through the neighborhood around the church praying and knocking on doors inviting people to gather with us for prayer. Many came…
Few returned.
Within a few days we began to learn that the majority of those who hijacked the planes were originally from Saudi Arabia, all haters of the Almighty God and launched war against the United States of America.
This event, like others, God used to better shape the theology of this pastor and how to live out all of life in a missional way by praying for my enemies.
One afternoon while praying in my office, I stepped into the small auditorium and opened all of the window blinds and was struck by how quickly we had already returned to “normal”. Everything in the city was back to normal quickly. Likely because we were far removed from New York City.
I sat down with a notebook and pen in the center of that old auditorium and began to write. A discipline I had not made part of my daily life yet, and wrote the lyrics to this poem/song.
The Other Side
Verse 1
Another day again, nothing changed within
Same ol’ me and the same ol’ you
Sitting on this side of the windows again
Happy where I am
Content just where I am
Same ol’ me and the same ol’ you
Sitting on this side of the windows again
Chorus
Shake my world again
But give me peace within
Oh Lord I want to go…
To the other side of the windows
Lord I know that’s where you want me to go
To the other side of the windows
Cause that’s where the lost people are
They’re on the other side
Verse 2
Be strong and courageous you’ve been bought by the saviors blood
Do you want to be the same ol’ you?
I don’t want to be the same ol’ me
Sitting on this side of the windows again
Bring me back again change my heart within
I don’t want to be the same ol’ me
Do you want to be the same ol’ you?
Sitting on this side of the windows again
Church Arise!
Dear Pastor,
Please accept our invitation to attend the Church Arise conference we are hosting at Calvary Baptist Church (911 S. Cole Rd.) in Boise, Idaho from September 19-22, 2019.
On behalf of Church Arise, my name is Paul Thompson (www.PaulThompsonBlog.com). I pastor Eastside Baptist Church (www.esbcTwinFalls.com) in Twin Falls, Idaho. In August we hosted a similar gathering here with over 400 in attendance: including pastors and churches from all over the Magic Valley, regional legislators, and our Idaho Lieutenant. Governor.
Please consider this invitation open to you, your family, and your entire church family.
Church Arise is a gathering of God fearing, born again believers, who are ready to interpose on behalf of pregnant women and their unborn babies with the Gospel. It would be a pleasure to have you attend as we organize, prepare, and humble ourselves before God.
There will be sessions available to inform all in attendance on what Idaho law actually is in regard to abortion. Sessions available to equip those in attendance how to compassionately, boldly, kindly, and Biblically engage our communities with truth. Of most importance, we will have sound biblical pastors, with their Bibles open, compelling all to humbly follow our Lord.
Additional information about the Church Arise conference, along with directions to Calvary Baptist Church, details about the schedule and meals are enclosed. Visit www.churchariseconference.com for other details.
Seating is limited as we anticipate hundreds to be in attendance. It will help us in making all provisions to accommodate everyone desiring to attend if you would kindly R.S.V.P. There is no cost for this conference.
It is my hope that you will accept this invitation and I look forward to receiving your reply and meeting you September 19-22 at Calvary Baptist Church in Boise, Idaho at our Church Arise conference.
Soli Deo Gloria
Paul Thompson
The Person and Nature of God
Last night (September 9, 2019) I was part of a panel discussion with religious leaders in the Magic Valley at the College of Southern Idaho hosted by Justin Vipperman, a grant writer from CSI.
I have been participating in a monthly dialog with these same religious leaders since 2016 on a monthly basis. We are made up from a wide variety of thought, belief, and religions.
Last night we picked up the topic of the Person and Nature of God. This proved to be a great topic for a public forum. Anytime to speak and hear about the person and nature of God is an exciting experience to participate in. It was a chance to hear what others think and believe. How often do you get to hear a Jewish Rabbi, a Muslim Imam, a Mormon Bishop, a Roman Catholic Priest, and Luthern, Methodist, Asembly of God, and a Baptist express the person and nature of God?
Some might think this is the makings for a global war.
I like to be in honest dialog with people. When I research a topic of interest I aim at the primary resources to get the best understanding of what I’m learning about. When it comes to knowing what other people believe the best way to do that is to let them speak without any fear of what might happen to them. To hear directly from a Jewish Rabbi is rare for most evangelical Christians. To see that same man sitting at the same table with a Muslim Imam is something most people should experience at least once in your life time. Then mix in a Mormon Bishop, a Roman Catholic Priest along with a Lutheran, wow, this this has the makings for a “pay-per-view” kind of night. And then stir in a Methodist, Assembly of God and a Baptist. (Then tell the Baptist guy he has 3 minutes to express his position. I tried.)
I found the dialog helpful. Greater clarity was communicated of what each of us think. To be clear, it is not what we each thing about the same Being it is toward a greater conversation on the differences in the god’s the various religions follow. I hold to a firm observation from listening to each other that we cannot possibly be looking at the same deity.
I’m thankful to the Almighty God for the opportunity to speak out in the public forum and have great hope for truth to be heard and seen. I’m thank for my neighbors that were at the table with me. I am pleased so many people attended. I’m grateful to the College of Southern Idaho, especially Justin Vipperman, for graciously hosting the event.
I’ll work on a series of posts that will include the questions that were asked and an expression of how I answered. For example, one question from the audience was “can you explain the gospel?” to which the moderator handed me the mic….
Following is my printed handout with citation.
God and the Holy Trinity
Isaiah 43:8-11 KJV
8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.
1689 Second London Confession
- The Lord our God is one, the only living and true God. He is self-existent and infinite in being and perfection. His essence cannot be understood by anyone but him. He is a perfectly pure spirit. He is invisible and has no body, parts, or changeable emotions.a He alone has immortality, dwelling in light that no one can approach. He is unchangeable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, in every way infinite, absolutely holy, perfectly wise, wholly free, completely absolute. He works all things according to the counsel of his own unchangeable and completely righteous will for his own glory. He is most loving, gracious, merciful, and patient. He overflows with goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. He rewards those who seek him diligently. At the same time, he is perfectly just and terrifying in his judgments. He hates all sin and will certainly not clear the guilty.
1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Deuteronomy 6:4. Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12. Exodus 3:14. John 4:24. 1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15, 16. Malachi 3:6. 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23. Psalm 90:2. Genesis 17:1. Isaiah 6:3. Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:10. Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36. Exodus 34:6, 7; Hebrews 11:6. Nehemiah 9:32, 33. Psalm 5:5, 6. Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2, 3. - God has all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness in and of himself; he alone is all-sufficient in himself. He does not need any creature he has made nor does he derive any glory from them. Instead, he demonstrates his own glory in them, by them, to them, and upon them. He alone is the source of all being, and everything is from him, through him, and to him. He has absolute sovereign rule over all creatures, to act through them, for them, or upon them as he pleases. In his sight everything is open and visible. His knowledge is infinite and infallible. It does not depend upon any creature, so for him nothing is contingent or uncertain. He is absolutely holy in all his plans, in all his works, and in all his commands. Angels and human beings owe to him all the worship, service, or obedience that creatures owe to the Creator and whatever else he is pleased to require of them.
John 5:26. Psalm 148:13. Psalm 119:68. Job 22:2, 3. Romans 11:34–36. Daniel 4:25, 34, 35. Hebrews 4:13. Ezekiel 11:5; Acts 15:18. Psalm 145:17. Revelation 5:12–14. - This divine and infinite Being consists of three real persons,c the Father, the Word or Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three have the same substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence without this essence being divided. The Father is not derived from anyone, neither begotten nor proceeding. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. All three are infinite and without beginning and are therefore only one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being. Yet these three are distinguished by several distinctive characteristics and personal relations. This truth of the Trinity is the foundation of all of our fellowship with God and of our comforting dependence on him.
1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14. Exodus 3:14; John 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6. John 1:14,18. John 15:26; Galatians 4:6.
Redemption, That Undeserved Blessed Kindness of God
Join me today at 204 Eastland Drive North in Twin Falls, Idaho as I continue the epic journey through the Gospel according to Isaiah.
Don’t miss gathering with the faith people of God who gather at 204 Eastland Drive North at 9:15 a.m. for bible study, 10:30 a.m for morning worship gathering, and 6:30 p.m. for evening gathering.
Live Streaming begins at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (mountain time)
Twin Falls, The Supreme Court Does Not Care About Our Children
As we follow the path lit by the Lamp of Scripture, the Bible, we know that this route will be met with opposition in this culture that has grown comfortable with the murdering of our vulnerable neighbors.
One consistent opposition we hear at every level is that Planned Parenthood will, WILL, file a lawsuit the very moment they catch wind that a people tell them “not in our city”, “not in our state” or “not in our nation”. This is likely more than a fear tactic, but where is a people in the land who will call out to God for courage to stand against the tyrant? Where are the citizens willing to run for public office with the grit to defend the baby in the womb?
But there is not just Planned Parenthood that is holding the city of Twin Falls hostage and slowly killing off babies every month like clock work. The lack of willingness to do what everyone says can’t be done has even paralyzed the city.
We are told it’s not an “if” it’s a “when” Planned Parenthood files lawsuit against the city the appeal process will be hurdle after hurdle of expensive legal steps only to be denied at the finish line by the Supreme Court of the United States.
Twin Falls, the Supreme Court doesn’t care about the children in our city. State legislators don’t drive past the abortion clinic on Second Ave. Church, the voice our community needs to hear is not a reminder that a neighborhood bully lives within the city or that a team of disconnected lawmakers are in the rear barracks while a spiritual battle rages. The city needs a church that will speak and keep on speaking truth. One thing God fearing citizens can do is vote city council members into office who will not be told to sit down and be quiet on this matter. This is the city council election you must not sit out of. Find out who is running for the available seats and ask them if they will pass a city ordinance that will forbid the murdering of babies in the womb in our city. Ask everyone of them. Nobody gets a pass on this. This is how we legislate moral and just ordinances. Murder is an act against God and humanity.
Allowing babies to be murdered in the womb because someone might press charges against us or declare our actions unconstitutional is not what God fearing people do. It’s not what loving people do. It’s not what good neighbors do. It’s not what civilized people do. It’s what barbarians do.
Be sure of this, the Supreme Court of the United States does not care what happens to the babies in Twin Falls, Idaho unless the people of Twin Falls, Idaho speak out. How does a system like ours work unless we are willing to challenge what we are told might happen. The Supreme Court of the United States is not our all powerful god. If we continue to treat it like that there will be no more of strange god we have bowed down to than that. If there is anyone in the community that cares about babies more than moms it should be the church of the Living God.
Come on brother preachers, speak truth into our day. Be the pillar and butruss of Truth. Those who do not love the children in our city do not have our permission to hold our city hostage any longer.
Let it be heard on the streets of Twin Falls… “who told the preachers they had permission to speak?”