Paul Thompson – Page 6 – PaulThompsonBlog

Everything Is Wrong If We Don’t Get This Right

Posted on February 1, 2017Leave a comment

Published in the Twin Falls Times News on Saturday, February 4, 2017

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There is little argument that the most familiar name in all of history is a man named Jesus.

What is at stake however, is who this Jesus is.

The Muslims have a Jesus, the Mormons have a Jesus, the atheists have a Jesus, Jehovah Witnesses have a Jesus, Universalists have a Jesus, and evangelicals have a Jesus. It may not be popular to talk about it, but all of these (and more) have at the core, a different Jesus.

What do you do when there is not enough space in the column to show how different all beliefs are? You look at one source and compare all others to that Jesus. I will do this by looking at the Jesus of the Bible.

Consider a few claims made in the bible…

Jesus is the third person of the one triune God (John 14:16, 24)
Jesus is the one and only begotten son of God. (John 1:14)
Jesus is the creator of all things. (John 1:3)
Jesus is the image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15)
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Jesus. (John 14:6)
Jesus is the redeemer of repenting sinners. (Matthew 1:21)
Jesus is uncreated. (John 1:3)
Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:11)

If we get this wrong: that Jesus is eternal, uncreated, creator, redeemer, the image of the invisible God, and more claims made in the Bible, we get everything wrong. Everything!

Don’t just take my word for it. Look at the Bible and compare this Jesus with the Muslim Jesus, the Mormon Jesus, and a secular Jesus.

Honest and truthful conversation today is what is most needed. It helps us unearth truth. It is more helpful to acknowledge that there may be some things that appear to have similar emotions and thoughts, but faiths built on feelings rather than truth is the most dangerous action one could ever take. It is a clear truth: we don’t have the same Jesus.

The same Jesus cannot be the Jesus of Bible and at the same time truthfully be the same Jesus of all the others.

Don’t get this wrong. If truth is being pursued, then search with all of your being for truth.

Come, let us speak and listen honestly.

SermonAudio.com

Posted on December 21, 2016Leave a comment

Since May of 2010, Eastside Baptist Church has been archiving sermons from Sunday morning gatherings. Currently there are over 330 sermons available in .mp3 downloadable files.

I want to share with all of my pastor friends and members of churches looking for a place to archive sermons to give consideration to SermonAudio.com.

We began using SermonAudio.com for a few reasons.

Some friends of Eastside living out of state paid for the first year of expenses (and have paid for it every year since.
The uploading of sermons to SermonAudio.com is easy and convenient for the low level tech users (like me).
It’s easy for those looking for your sermons to find them easily. SermonAudio.com archives, categorizes, offers storage for .pdf uploads, easy searching for any past sermons, a personalized page for your church, easy sharing of sermons in all social media outlets and embedding into personal blogs and church webpages. It is really easy.
SermonAudio.com is host to some of the best preaching in the land today. Ministries and preachers such as, Grace to You, Answers in Genesis, Joel Beeke, Steve Lawson, Voddie Baucham and many more…

If you sign up right now, SermonAudio.com will wave the one time setup fee of $150.00 and you can sign up for only $1.00. Click HERE for more details and registration link.

I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about how I find SermonAudio.com useful in my preaching ministry.

Covenant Keepers for 30 Years (and counting)

Posted on December 20, 2016Leave a comment

Location: First Baptist Church, Clovis, NM
Date: December 20, 1986
Occasion: Marriage of Paul Robert Thompson to Teresa Renee Culberth

This annual celebration of our marriage grows sweeter as the days fly by.

December 20, 2016 makes December 20, 1986 seem like decades ago (3 to be exact). I am pleased that God would give me this kind of grace in my life.

Following is an attempt to express myself with rhyming words…

Of all the sons of men, how could I be him?
Look! is what I do when she walks in!

Neither of us would have mapped out this path like ours.
But how could this journey be better than ours?

My pulse races when she looks at me.
How can this still be?

A third decade of wedded years.
I can hardly write a poem without tears.

Do you see me with that grin?
I would do it all again and again!

paulrenee01

A Horn of Salvation

Posted on December 19, 2016Leave a comment

If you are in Twin Falls, Idaho on Christmas Eve I hope you might consider joining me at Eastside Baptist Church, 5PM.

During the Christmas Eve service we will sing Christmas Carols, Scripture Reading and a Christmas message from Luke 1:67 entitled “The Horn of Salvation”

I hope you can join me on this special occasion.

Live Streaming

Posted on December 12, 20162 Comments

Recently ESBC has begun live streaming of Sunday morning worship gatherings. We’ve updated and sped up our internet speed to improve quality of the video streaming and audio. Right now we are still in an experimental arena and using the free service of YouTube. At some point as we work out the bugs we may begin to host the video at our SermonAudio site. For now, you can still listen to our sermons in mp3 files at SermonAudio.

The purpose of live streaming is simple. It is primarily to allow those who would normally gather at ESBC on Sunday mornings but are unable to for any number of reasons. It is not intended to be a substitute for normal, regular gathering. It could also serve as an outreach for those you know. You could send them a link, share on your social media, invite others to hear.

I began preaching through Philippians on December 4, 2016.

Past video messages are archived HERE.

Birthday Cards

Posted on October 19, 2016Leave a comment

Well, Lord willing, it happens on Thursday.

It is statistically highly unlikely to have 50 more of these.

50th birthday cards are a strange combination of reality and morbidly funny.

I thought I would actually put into practice any (reasonable) 50th birthday card advice. Here is the start…

“Look back and marvel at how far you’ve come.”

If I took this literally, I have come 1,431 miles from a hospital delivery room in Ft. Worth, TX on October 20, 1966.
If I took this philosophically or reflectively, I’ve traveled nearly as far. A rather shy, quite, introverted person to a calling that puts me in the front of people, speaking, and expected to be in extroverted situations many times.
Spiritually, by the grace of God and the power of the resurrection, I have advanced and have further to go.

“Act old enough to know better, but young enough not to care.”

I have attended meetings recently with younger pastors and they are now talking about me the way I used to talk about the older pastors. This is both exciting and scary.

“Make a list of 50 things you’re thankful for.” (I’ve included people as well)

God, (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit)
The Bible
Renee
David
Emily
Silas
Bianca
Any time with family
Parents (including Renee’s parents)
grandparents (including Renee’s grandparents)
Siblings (Les and his family, Mark and his family, Drew and his family, and Gayle)
Faithful preachers
Churches (especially Eastside Baptist Church)
Alex Veillard and his family
New Horizon Home
Friends
All previous churches and pastors
Mentors
Missionaries
Utah/Idaho Southern Baptist family
Home
Health
Clothes
Books
Reading
pets (even Cleo)
Neighbors
Twin Falls
Idaho
Colorado
New Mexico
Texas
Mountains
Backpacking
Camping
Chick-fil-A
Sonic
United States
Pizza
Transportation
Bicycles
Lawn mowers
indoor plumbing
Heat
Air Conditioning
Sunshine
Rain
Snow
Mail
Birthdays

“Write two notes: one to your 20-year-old self, and another to your 60-year-old self.”

20 year old Paul:
Dear Paul,
Make the most of every moment. Spend more time with Renee. Hug your children more. Listen better, Treasure your family more. Read your bible more. Preach with greater compassion. Exercise more. Laugh more. Don’t worry about what others say about you. Take fewer naps. Be slow to speak. Guard yourself. Complain less. Be more grateful. Give more. Hike more mountains. Plant more in your garden. Thank God for everything.
60 year old Paul:
Dear Paul,
Make the most of every moment. Spend more time with Renee. Hug your children more. Listen better. Treasure your family more. Read your bible more. Preach with greater compassion. Exercise more. Laugh more. Don’t worry about what others say about you. Take fewer naps. Be slow to speak, Guard yourself. Complain less. Be more grateful. Give more. Hike more mountains. Plant more in your garden. Thank God for everything.

During the Time of Your Stay on Earth

Posted on September 29, 2016Leave a comment

Join me at the National Center for Family Integrated Churches Fear of God conference
at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ashville, NC October 27-29, 2016.

“How Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.” (Psalm 128:1)

I will have the opportunity to gather with some of the most looked to men of God in our day. Men like Ken Ham, John Snyder, Joel Beeke, Jeff Pollard, Carlton McLeod, Scott Brown, Craig Houston, and many others. (Full list of speakers)

Over the past several months I’ve participated in a daily devotional on the Fear of God. You may want to take some time to meditate on the Fear of God with these devotions. (All devotion videos)

I will address the Fear of God from the following position.

During the Time of Your Stay on Earth
(Background: Psalm 128:1, Ecclesiasties 12:13-14, 1 Peter 1:17, Hebrews 12:28-29)

It is said again and again in our day; “to err is human”. Could it be said better? “to fear God is human.” This will be our safety net to cover all our wandering ways, sinful indulgences, and actions against our creator.

The philosophy of men gives us permission to sin; even to laughingly brush away the conclusion that, even in our fallen condition, we are called out to fear God and keep His commandments.

How do we keep ourselves from wanting less than what God calls us to; Himself.

A problem many of us are blinded with is that we are more impressed with what God will give us than we are with God. Many spend a lifetime of energy trying to “walk in His Ways” or “keep His commandments” and never come to fear or know Him (1 Peter 1:17).

If we are to walk in His ways in a manner that is considered an acceptable service, we are to do so with reverence and awe “for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

The Fear of God and the Voting Booth

Posted on August 25, 20162 Comments

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When you live in a blessed land like the United States of America it is a sobering truth that the follower of Christ, as defined by the Bible, has both a privilege and responsibility to engage in this amazing moment in the election process.

From all pages of the Bible we read of a sovereign active creator and ruler and it behooves the sojourning citizen to take serious inventory of our duty.

One could choose to not participate in the voting duty, as it appears more than 20 million professing Christians chose that option in the last presidential election.

One could choose to intentionally participate in this significant moment as a person of biblical conviction. I refuse to vote for someone in order to block another from being president. I will not waste my duty on such foolishness. I will cast my vote for the individual I believe will maintain a constitutional republic, and I call on Christians and fellow countrymen to the same. Look closely.

I will vote my conscience within the influence of the fear of God, the beginning of wisdom, and ask God to help me live with joy in him regardless of the outcome.

I think that an honest observation of the current landscape of the candidates of the two primary political parties reveals that we are in active judgment of God. Then, a deeper examination of other options, in other political parties, it appears that God is willing to give the nation a chance to repent. Have you looked at Darrell Castle yet? He is running for the Constitution party (party platform). Take a close look. There is no flashy personality. There is humility and conviction, there is a man stricken with anguish for the direction of the nation and hopeful for the dawning day.

I’m not looking for a presidential “savior”, I’m looking for a candidate who is interested in acting in the best interest of the nation from a biblical worldview.

“If God raised me up and made me President of the United States, what I told the states, what I told you I would do, I will do, or die trying. So help me God.” Darrell Castle

In a recent devotional project with the National Center for Family Integrated Churches I had the opportunity to offer some thoughts on what it may look like when there is no fear of God in civil leaders.

When There Is No Fear of God in Civil Leaders from NCFIC on Vimeo.

Do You Have No Fear of God?

Posted on August 8, 2016Leave a comment

* From The Fear of God Devotional

There is a benefit to your soul to live out your life with the fear of God.

Is there evidence in your life that there is a decrease of the fear of God or intentional actions you are doing to keep yourself from walking in the fear of God? Do you want the benefit of the fear of God upon your life? Here are some warning signs that may help you identify if you are on a path to keep yourself from the fear of God.

Remove yourself from the local Church.
Stay away from other believers who will pray with with.
Alienate yourself from preaching that will lead to repentance.
Remove yourself from the fear of God.
Infuse your life with pleasure in the things of men.
Increase in your desire for worldliness.
Surround yourself with others who will not hold you accountable.
Not reading your Bible to know who God is.
Reading the Bible for morality.
While reading the Bible think the warnings are for other people and not you.
No longer delight to obey God.

Here’s a short video where I attempt to express this for a devotional project for the National Center of Family Integrated Churches.

What It Means When You Don’t Want the Fear of God in Your Life from NCFIC on Vimeo.

Repent

Posted on July 26, 2016Leave a comment

While preaching through the Kings at Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls, I’ve come to 2 Kings 18. In this chapter there is the sweet sound of revival. It is clear from the very first few verses that true revival will require an active work; hard work of removing, destroying and breaking. But if the actions of removing, destroying and breaking the idols we so love is done without repenting of the sin that drives us to love idols we are only dealing with behavior modification and not dealing with the motivation or the cause that drives us to disobey God.

Here is a three minute clip from the sermon from LORD’s Day, July 24, 2016:

Here is the full sermon:

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