Articles by Paul

Death is Swallowed Up

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My column from yesterday in the Twin Falls, Times News:

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The life of Jesus, the Christ, as described in the Holy Bible alone, has been historically documented with multiple eyewitnesses of His resurrection, bearing evidence of this real person. On this historic weekend, remembered since the first generation of Christians as the Lord’s Day, this same Jesus would put death forever under His foot.

“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory” (Hosea 13:14)

If you have not already made plans to gather with a New Testament church, ordered by the Bible, you should consider this today. Be sure it is a church that is submitted to the Lordship of Jesus and is governed by the authority of the Word of God.

Here is how the apostle Paul spoke of this great victory to the church in Corinth.

“But the glorious fact is that Christ did rise from the dead: he has become the very first to rise of all who sleep the sleep of death. As death entered the world through a man, so has rising from the dead come to us through a man! As members of a sinful race all men die; as members of the Christ of God all men shall be raised to life, each in his proper order, with Christ the very first and after him all who belong to him when he comes.

Then, and not till then, authority and power, hands over the kingdom to God the Father. Christ’s reign will and must continue until every enemy has been conquered. The last enemy of all to be destroyed is death itself. The scripture says: “He has put all things under his feet.” But in the term “all things” it is quite obvious that God, who brings them all under subjection to Christ, is himself excepted.

Nevertheless, when everything created has been made obedient to God, then shall the Son acknowledge himself subject to God the Father, who gave the Son power over all things. Thus, in the end, shall God be wholly and absolutely God.

To refuse to believe in the resurrection is both foolish and wicked.

Further, you should consider this, that if there is to be no resurrection what is the point of some of you being baptized for the dead by proxy? Why should you be baptized for dead bodies? And why should I live a life of such hourly danger? I assure you, by the certainty of Jesus Christ that we possess, that I face death every day of my life! And if to use the popular expression, I have “fought with wild beasts” here in Ephesus, what is the good of an ordeal like that if there is no life after this one? “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

Don’t let yourselves be deceived. Talking about things that are not true is bound to be reflected in practical conduct. Come back to your senses, and don’t dabble in sinful doubts. Remember that there are men who have plenty to say but have no knowledge of God. You should be ashamed that I have to write like this at all!” (1 Corinthians 15:20-34 Phillips Translation)

Have a blessed Resurrection Day!

Created in the Image of God

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Following is my “Pastor’s Corner” column scheduled to appear in the Twin Falls Times News on Saturday, April 6, 2019. If they agree to print it, it will be printed the day before a special feature on transgender citizens in the Magic Valley. To my neighbors who identify as a transgender person, you will find the church of the Lord Jesus Christ loves you enough to speak the truth on these matters. All of humanity should live with peace that God speaks into all passions with truth so we might live in greatest joy by glorifying God in obeying Him.

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Created in the Image of God
-by Paul Thompson-

As a Bible believing preacher of a local church, I hold to truth held by the authority of the Holy Bible. Meaning everything is up against this plumb-line. The growing confusion in our culture will continue to unravel the fabric of a pleasant and happy society that governs how we live our lives and how society exists when that same society wants to invite ideas foreign to the laws of nature.

When one considers the most basic starting place for a secure and happy estate, the Bible shows that God’s creation is in happy existence when it obeys God. If one chooses to disobey God, then it would be right to conclude that disobedience of God’s created order would invite unhappiness.

The Bible is clear, God created male and female. In humanity, that is all he created.

Think about God’s creation. He created all things and established them.  Day and Night are established. Fish and birds are established. Cattle and insects are established. Humanity is altogether established. The sun is never the moon. Water is never air. Male is never female.

In creation of mankind, the bible clearly describes humanity as male and female. The Bible does not offer another philosophy or path. It is clear that man will want to pervert this truth, but this perversion can not be argued as a biblical truth.

To say that gender no longer matters is to speak against the spoken order of humanity created by God in His image. To speak against the order of God is to say gender no longer matters, the distinctives of male and female are merely socially influenced rather than Holy and unchangeable.

If the sexes were interchangeable or not fixed, this would  place the perception of sinful humanity as superior to Holy Almighty God. This attitude places man as the supreme and not God, who is altogether different.

To suggest that there is a fluid transition of the sexes, depending upon how one feels, is unscientific. One would have to reject the scientific clarity of male and female. If one is a male, he will not need to have hormone therapy to manipulate his scientific DNA. If one is female, she does not need to have her anatomy surgically adjusted to match the female gender.

1 Cor. 6 lablels men behaving/dressing feminine as an abomination. With this conclusion regarding men behaving effeminate, it is accurate to conclude that it is also an abomination for a woman to behave/dress masculine. This encompasses the expression of gender identity through clothing, hairstyle, makeup, mannerisms, or even surgery.

To undergoing “sex reassignment surgery” is actually a statement of rejecting the identity of the birth gender. It is a logical flaw to suggest that the gender one was born with is not the correct gender. To undergo reassignment is to acknowledge the current, reject it, and then assign an altogether different gender.

If a  blind DNA test were done for Bruce Jenner, the science will tell you he is a male; in spite of his claim, dress, mannerisms, and choice of public restroom. He is a man and cannot be anything but a man, ever. To claim otherwise is an abomination against the image of God.

The duty of the believer in the bible is to exegete the text. In other words, the authority of the text governs the conversation. If the bible says that God created humanity male and female we must let the creator instruct the reader. The reader doesn’t have permission to impose his or her feelings above the authority of the text.

The church that claims the bible to be the “word of God” has no other choice but to accept what God has revealed. To reject this authority or equate other books equal to it is to not be Christian.

As it was from the beginning, so it is to this very day.

(For further reference see Genesis 1:28-29; Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19: 3-6; Mark 10: 6-9; Ephesians 5:28-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Pastor Paul Thompson is the preaching pastor at Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls, Idaho. Eastside Baptist Church gathers on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. www.esbcTwinFalls.com You can email Paul at paul@esbcTwinFalls.com

Why I Watched “Unplanned”

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Over the weekend Renee and I went to our first R rated movie since “the Passion of the Christ”.

I’ll say this first, it deserved an R (restricted) rating because of the real depicted violence induced upon a human fetus in the womb while an abortion is being performed. I have seen very few R rated movies in my life. So I don’t have a movie library history to make much of a comparison. I’ll say this, about that though, I’ve seen PG-13 movies with more violence than this movie had. But the fact that this depicted violence was inflicted upon a defenseless baby made this of the most violent thing I have ever seen. I’ll say that again. The (animated) depiction of when the “induced abortion” (the kind they do in Twin Falls on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month) as shown on the screen was the most violent thing I have ever seen.

I had been on the fence about seeing the show for a few reason. They are negotiable reasons but shows part of my growing apprehension about quote/unquote “Christian” films.

I’ll just leave a bullet point list of things I thought were good and things I thought were not helpful.

  • This kind of film is needed in a day like ours to address the severity of the violence that has been going on in our nation, and around the world, for decades.
  • Planned Parenthood, as an organization, is as ungodly an organization as you will find on the planet, in my opinion. It might be possible for someone to volunteer at Planned Parenthood and not know some things. Might be. But now, ignorance can no longer be a defense.
  • The Gospel was not clearly upon display in this film.
  • There were Christians displayed in the movie.
  • Womanhood and motherhood in America is clearly under attack.
  • Ministry to women is needed.
  • Doctors who murder babies in the womb are the weakest people in the land and deserve to be prosecuted.
  • The display of a Godly husband was weak at best. This was not the point of the movie, but the husband was shown to be a passive leader, not actively leading his household.

This much is clear: The time is past. We must convince our law makers and city councils to actively shut Planned Parenthood down, and any other organizations performing abortions to no longer have the protection of the law. This is a truth with or without this movie.

I’m am confident of this, no movie will do what only the sufficient word of God can do.

Church, arise with your gospel shoes on. Pastors, our communities need us more than ever to be the pillar and buttress of Truth.

Pastors Round Table

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Every Thursday on Newsradio 1310 KLIX I have this pleasure to see my friend Bill Colley (out of picture below to the left). Bill is the local talk radio host on Magic Valley This Morning. The show runs Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. rain or shine.

I first met Bill at the local Home and Garden show at CSI several years ago and have enjoyed being on his program from time to time. Nearly one year ago, Bill stopped by my office to talk about the possibility of doing a weekly hour long segment he calls Pastors Round Table.

Left to Right
Bill (just out of sight), Bear (Magic Valley Bible Church), me, and Christopher Folkerts (New Covenant United Reformed Church)

I’ve had several other pastors in the area join us and fill in when one of us are gone. The guys in the photo are the regular pastors you hear every Thursday.

Their friendship is enjoyable. I’m thankful to God for His kindness to allow friendships like this. These guys are Biblical, trustworthy, articulate, and kindhearted. They love the Lord, it’s clear their families are priorities in their lives, and they are faithful to give their churches a word from God.

You should put this program on your calendar for every Thursday from 9-10 a.m. You can listen in on a radio at 1310 AM or audio stream online at Newsradio 1310 KLIX. Bill is on every weekday from 6-10 a.m. and writes news at Newsradio 1310 KLIX website.

What if Planned Parenthood Wanted to Fly Its Flag at the Statehouse?

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What if an enemy of the state of Idaho wanted to fly its flag at the statehouse?

This week in the city of Twin Falls, Idaho 5 babies will be stopped from having a live birth. While that happens, a bill will continue to sit on a desk at the statehouse that would make a path possible to stop murdering of babies in Idaho. This, because legislators are afraid Planned Parenthood wants to fly its flag over the statehouse.

Since Planned Parenthood opened in Twin Falls, Idaho the death of babies has now reached the entire city population of Hansen and Eden. Over 1,900 babies have been murdered at a “women’s health center” in downtown Twin Falls and no one with proper jurisdiction to stop this bloodshed has been willing to stand up to the tyranny of Planned Parenthood.

I originally wrote the following on August 19. 2013 HERE(emphasis added)

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I would expect there would be a global outrage if an army of 600 militia men, armed for war, burned a peaceful town down. I would likely join the cry for justice.

I would expect Facebook and Twitter would light up with posts for weeks if it was discovered that a father gave his daughters to invaders to do with as they wish. This is wrong on so many levels, and one would find few people to disagree that that father is not only a danger to his children, but to all of civilization.

I would expect a man who chops his dead wife up into twelve equal pieces and then sends those pieces throughout the land to not escape the death penalty.

unicef
plannedparenthood

(yet) Today, in our land and around the world, two organizations are largely unchallenged in their injustice, inhumane ways. UNICEF gets its pass because of their clever and well put together commercials and propaganda. Planned Parenthood will cunningly evade the questions on funding while they slaughter the unborn. Both organizations will gather large sums of money from tax payers in America and individual donors. Making both UNICEF and Planned Parenthood arms of government and private militia. Nearly unstoppable.

I would expect a nation that claims to be a nation under God would not stand for the murdering of (61) million defenseless babies.

This oversight seems unbelievable. Yet, when there is no acknowledgment of God, when men do what is right in their own eyes, (only then can) a nation can sit quietly by while the act of murdering 3,300 babies today will be protected by law, while babies go unprotected. Citizens of the United States of America, prepare to give your best effort in answering your God. Better, repent of your laziness and pursuit of happiness while this slaughtering takes place in your city today.

It is clear, when men do what is right in their own eyes, they will soon be doing what is evil in the eyes of God.

Deacons Must Be

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For the past three weeks Eastside has been preparing for the process of electing new deacons. If you missed any of the teachings please listen and prepare for the the coming weeks as we elect new deacons.

I Need Your Help

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Over at the Facebook place, I’ve run into an issue.

Because I’ve been vocal about the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act on my public profile page I’m not being allowed to boost any ‘political’ or issues of “national importance” posts until I prove my identity.

I’m actually alright with that. I’m the one who agrees to use their platform to advance my posts. It’s mostly an inconvenience while I wrestle through my conspiracy theories in my head. Do I or don’t I give them a copy of my drivers license? Why do they want a copy of my drivers license? You know the usual thoughts that begin to roll around the head.

I’ve been using my public profile page for years. I’ve weighed in on politics and issue of national interest and never been required to prove my identity. If (as my conspiracy theories work out in my head) they (whoever “they” is) already know who I am and know where I live and everywhere I go all day long and how often I visit Sonic and likely even know that I will be drinking a vanilla diet coke between 2 and 4 this afternoon. How much more do I need to prove to them who I am and what kind of national security risk I actually pose. so….

Here’s what I’m asking of you today. While I’m waiting to prove my identity so I can boost a political or national interest post, would you be willing to help me spread a few of these posts. It looks like it may take about four weeks to prove who I am (which most of our state legislative duties will be finished by then and I will have moved on to other things to write about).

Here are a few recent posts I could use help getting circulated if you are willing. (If Facebook wants to confirm who you are because of what you are doing don’t mention that you know me, because they apparently don’t know who I am yet.)

The Wells Are Plugged Up

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This was my Twin Falls, Times News column from this past weekend published in the Saturday edition.

Pastor’s Corner – March 9, 2019
by Paul Thompson

The Wells Are Plugged Up

No one living in southern Idaho can underestimate the value of water.

I collect rain water off  half my garage to water my garden. This is effective as long as the clouds rain rain. What happens when the clouds rain no rain?

Anyone who lives in a desert region knows that at some point the rain will likely stop. When this happens, usually around July, the thriving community will need a good source of water. If no consideration has been made in the cool days of rain, no life will survive the blistering heat of the scorching sun when there is no rain.

A student of history knows that there have been many historic battles fought over water rights. We even see this in that ancient holy book, the Bible.

In Genesis 26, the reader learns that after Abraham died, the Philistines came along and plugged up all of Abraham’s wells. The Philistines filled the wells to pollute, clog, and render them useless for the descendants of Abraham. Their hatred for God and His people was so high that they were willing to murder them by shutting off the water, that supply all of society needs to thrive. Without it, the people can’t live. That was their aim, ending the life of Abraham’s family. They obviously didn’t want the water, they wanted the people to suffer and ultimately die.

Today, we tell ourselves we live in a much more “civilized”, “enlightened” day. We don’t intentionally contaminate other people’s water. No one is going to shut the water supply off because of one’s religion,  no one is going to clog up the well of the farmer just because he’s a God fearer.

However, there are God fearing people in the land and there is a growing hatred of them. If one looks at the issue of life, it is evident that hatred of image-of-God-bearing babies in the womb is growing. This continues to dominate attention in our day.

Forget about what New York State has done, never mind the cruelty of Virginia, don’t focus solely on  what the governor of New Mexico has vowed to do. Look right here. Look in the county and city of Twin Falls. Open your eyes to what victory the war campaign of death has made in our own land of Idaho.

There is a bill sitting on the desk of Rep. Steven Harris, the chairman of the State Affairs Committee, that would make abortion (murder of babies in the womb) illegal in Idaho. I sat in his office this week to appeal to his conscience to open the gate to let this bill in for committee work. When I asked him if he would print the bill, he said “no, I will not”. If you remember your School House Rock, you’ll remember this is where a bill gets worked on, fine tuned, and adjusted; or the bill dies in that committee altogether. The “Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act” remains on the desk of the committee chairman because he apparently fears it will pass the house and the senate and would soon be ready for the governor’s signature..The  enemy of God has a hatred of image-bearing-lives and he has convinced a chairman to sit on the bill that would otherwise let the babies live.

One thing the reader discovers as they read through  Genesis 26 is that Isaac would eventually come along and dig out the wells. He would remove everything the Philistines had polluted the wells with, he would remove all the junk, all the dirt, all the garbage. While doing so, he would once again reclaim the splendor of the desert with life.

To the faithful, God fearing followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, as described by the Bible: Rise up today with your gospel shovel and let’s dig out the “wells” the Philistines have plugged up. Strap on your Gospel shoes and let’s get to work.

There is one organization, lead by an evil, God-hating agenda to plug up life in our city, county, state, and nation. May God mobilize His people- His church, and find them actively purifying  the decades old plugged up wells.

Gather this Lord’s day with a people longing to hear a report about God from a living pulpit lit by the Word of God. Gather there and pray, gather there and prepare, gather there with your “Gospel shovels”, it’s work day at the church house.

consider visiting the Times News page: The Wells Are Plugged Up

You Have 90 Seconds. What Do You Say?

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I was on CrossPolitc a few weeks ago (a completely enjoyable experience). While there I was asked, “You have 90 seconds to speak to Rep. Steven Harris, what do you say?” Rep. Steven Harris is the chairman of the Idaho State Affairs Committee who has been holding the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act (IAHRA) since it was first introduced by Rep. Heather Scott and Rep. John Green.

I had been trying to get an appointment with Rep. Harris since the IAHRA was introduced. By the grace of God, I was able to get a meeting with Rep. Harris last Tuesday. It was my expectation to have just a few moments so I had been working on fine tuning what I would say if I had 90 seconds with Rep. Harris. (I actually had 1 hour and 15 minutes, but following is my early attempt to speak clearly and articulate.)

Following is what I wrote, I said most of this (and a bit more). It was a pleasure to travel with several men from the Magic Valley

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We are first and foremost Ambassadors of the reconciliation of Christ. Christ the only begotten son of God, as described by the Bible, stands as a required atonement for sinful people who have broken the law of God, that includes the very matter we are here before you today. Life.

God himself told all of humanity “Do not murder.”

A people have sinned against God. A state has sinned against God. Today, while it is still called today, hear our redeemer, repent of delaying what you claim you hold a true, and allow the gate to be opened to end the murdering babies in the womb.

The Bible describes contrasting conditions of nations. One of splendid comfort, thriving economies, flourishing families, bumper crops, abundant water supply for the coming growing season. Another of a barren wasteland, a day of grave darkness, a land with no moister, a cloud that rains no rain.

I would not want to think of living in either condition without the protection and salvation of Almighty God. Whether the economy is abounding or the crops are failing, God will not abandon His obedient people.

I’m here today to ask you to give the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act a path for debate.

  • It may die in committee.
  • It may survive a heated debate.
  • It may become a law that claims every child in the blessed womb of women in the state of Idaho is sacred and worthy of defense at all costs.
  • It may get challenged in court
  • It may get defeated and cost Idahoans millions and millions of dollars.
  • It may withstand the scrutiny of supreme court.

We want to assure you we will not abandon our God. We will not abandon our fellow citizens. We will not abandon the child in the womb.

Rep. Harris, rise up today and submit to the Almighty God of the Bible who stands as a righteous judge with indignation against nations who oppose Him. Do not bury the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act in the rear guard of the winter barracks. Set this bill loose and let it cry out for the babies in the womb.

Rep. Harris, when will someone in our state finally stand up for the unwanted baby? Who will defend them? Who will fight for their rights?

These are Idaho citizen who will never dip their toes in the Clearwater or float the Salmon, they’ll never hear the mountain blue bird sing or hear the roar of the Niagara of the west. These citizens will not have the temporal pleasure of seeing the mighty Sawtooths, breath our fresh air or eat a world famous Idaho potato. Thousands of Idaho citizens will never experience these blessed temporal pleasures.

No nation, no people, no government can withstand the righteous indignation of the Holy God.

You have been appointed by God for this day. You are not responsible for the unpredictable path of how men will respond. You answer to higher authority. May God have mercy upon our land in this day with clouds that rain down righteousness that the fruit of salvation may bear forth and righteousness spring up with it. (Isaiah 45:8)

Will you fear men today, who can kill the body, or will you fear God who can destroy both body and soul?

Rep. Harris, will you be the principled man today and give the children in the womb a path to let the state of Idaho speak for them? Will you print this bill?

_________________________

Rep. Harris: “No, I will not print this bill.”

You have 90 seconds to speak to Rep. Harris, what would you say?

Continue praying. Pray for Rep. Harris. Pray that God will awaken the conscience of the legislative branches of Idaho to not fear men (Planned Parenthood) and introduce legislative language that abolishes abortion in the state of Idaho.

Write Rep. Harris.

email: sharris@house.idaho.gov

snail mail: Rep. Steven Harris
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0038

Share this will others.

(All posts are eligible for ongoing editing for spelling and typo)

Encourage the Exhausted

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Today, I want to call my readers to action again.

If you’ve been reading here at all over the past month you know that I have put much attention to the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act. I will continue to do so and even will in this post.

Today, however, I want to invite you to join me in sending a very short, I mean very short, email to John Green and Heather Scott. Like all of the legislators, they have been working hard. These two, while doing all their duties on every bill that comes before them have also been at war for the unborn like few are willing to do.

Earlier this week I traveled to Boise with Christopher Folkerts, Mickie Kelly, Billy Galloska, and Silas Thompson to visit with Rep. Harris, the chairman of the State Affairs Committee. This meeting was to assure him that pastors from across the state of Idaho are in favor of the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act. Our meeting did not produce a favorable printing of the bill to the full committee. Hope must not be fixed on the fear of men. It is never lost on the fear of God.

But by the grace of God, we were able to meet Rep. Green and Rep. Scott for the first time. We were able to pray for them and encourage them that the church is ready and mobilized for ongoing action.

“Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.”

Isaiah 35:3)

Would you please write Rep. Green and Rep. Scott a very short email? (Do not expect a reply. It will be nearly impossible for them to reply to you.)

Representative John Green: jgreen@house.idaho.gov
Representative Heather Scott: hscott@house.idaho.gov

example of what I wrote them.

Representative Green,

It was my pleasure in Christ to pray for you today. Don’t quit the good fight for the glory of God.

Paul Thompson
Twin Falls, Idaho


Representative Scott,

It was my pleasure in Christ to pray for you today. Don’t quit the good fight for the glory of God.

Paul Thompson
Twin Falls, Idaho

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