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Open Letter to Magic Valley Bible Church

Dear Magic Valley Bible Church,

It was a pleasure to join you this past Sunday evening. Your generosity and kindness to welcome Eastside Baptist Church was what I’ve come to expect from those who claim to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m thankful to the Lord for our shared kinship and hope we have in the blood of Christ.

It is a pleasure to labor in the city and valley with your pastor. I look forward to your pastors monthly column in the Times News, I know I can encourage others to read it without reservation. I’ve discovered in our friendship that He loves the Lord and longs to faithfully exhort the treasury of God’s word. In all of my conversations with pastor “Bear”, he speaks of his love for you. It’s clear that He has a great interest in his family and longs to see the gospel banner advanced throughout the world. I count it a pleasure to know your pastor as friend.

May the Lord strengthen your gospel work in the city. May the residents of Twin Falls and the Magic Valley always find you a faithful refuge, heralding a trustworthy message. May you endure with joy in the Lord. May the favor of the Lord rest upon your fellowship.

I’m thankful to the Lord for your laboring ministry and I look forward to more times together. I count it a pleasure to know the Lord’s people of Magic Valley Bible Church and their pastor.

Paul Thompson
Eastside Baptist Church

 

85 Reasons I Like Living in Idaho

Here are my top 85 reasons I like living in Idaho

GE1) Family: I’m thankful to the Lord for my family.

(left to right: Renee, me, Silas, Bianca, Emily, and David)

 

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2) Church: I’m thankful to the Lord for my church family, Eastside Baptist Church.

Eastside Baptist Church is a courageous family of believers striving to keep the Glory of God in front of us, the Lordship of Christ directing our steps, and obeying the Spirit promptly. We gather on Sunday mornings at 9:15am for bible study, 10:30am and 6:30pm for worship; Wednesday nights at 6:30pm for a weekly prayer gathering.

 

 

 

Martinez3) Friends: I’m thankful to the Lord for friends like John Martinez.

Hey, write my buddy a short note and tell him hello. Pray for his ongoing ministry with the soldiers of the Idaho National Guard.

 

 

Provider Farms4) Raw cow milk from Provider Farms to go on my oatmeal tonight.

Provider Farms delivers fresh farm produce to Twin Falls every Monday morning. You should visit www.providerfarms.com this week and place an order. They make the local delivery at the Eastside Baptist Church parking lot. Take time to come in and say hello while you are here.

 

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5) Adventure awaits me around every corner and there is always a mountain top that needs to be climbed.

We are planning a trip to the top of Mt. Borah again in late August. Contact me about the date and join in on the ‘Borah Shuffle’.

 

 

80MPHHere are the remaining 80 reasons I like living in Idaho. Beginning July 1, interstate travel in most of Southern Idaho will increase to 80 mph.

 

SermonAudio Archive

Currently preaching through Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls, Idaho. All sermons are currently available online here. Get caught up on the series and join us this coming Lord’s Day, June 29 as we continue the examination of 1 Corinthians.

An Extended Season of Grace

Late yesterday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an upgrade from a temporary stay to a permanent stay on the Idaho Constitutional position of marriage being between one man and one woman. The permanent stay is not simply as permanent as the word would imply, but it is an extended season of grace from God for believers in Idaho to express your views to our state government on this important matter. You can communicate (with kindness and grace) with Governor Otter HERE.

Here is the press release from Governor Otter’s office this afternoon. Consider expressing your joy in the Lord by contacting Gov. Otter HERE.

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An Appeal to Governor Otter

I sent this letter to Governor Otter, very similar to the appeal I made on Friday at the Twin Falls County Courthouse.

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To: Governor Otter                                                                                                May 16, 2014
the State of Idaho

Dear Governor Otter

I respect the boldness you have taken on the defense of marriage. I plead with you as a reasonable citizen to not change the language of “Groom” and “Bride” to “Applicant A” and “Applicant B” on the Idaho marriage license application.

I respect that you have a fiduciary responsibility to all citizens in our great state. I’m not asking you to hinder anyone from having this legal document. I’m asking you to honor our grand history of having the terms “Bride” and “Groom” on all historic records in our state.

May all who apply for this license have the pleasure of the strong history of the founders of our state constitution. Please do not neutralize the historical beauty of the language because of a federal judge ruling. Hold tightly to our heritage, the heritage of the pioneer west that did what few others would dare to do. Be this kind of governor, our nation needs your boldness. Rise up, and lead forth.

At the least, our history deserves more than a simple change in language.

Please respond in writing explaining why this kind of change would even be considered without respect of the wishes of the good citizens of Idaho.

Thank you for your long service and good care to the needs of all who reside in Idaho.

As a minister of the Gospel of the Lord, Jesus the Christ, I appeal to you to keep a language that finds favor with our Creator. May God bless Idaho.
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Paul Thompson

Open Letter to Twin Falls County

I spent the day preparing and hand delivering a letter to the Twin Falls County Courthouse to express my hope that this county will stay with the strong historic language of “Husband” and “Wife” on the license application. (Here are my thoughts on this matter earlier today.)

The kind and helpful ladies in the county clerks office endured my questions and received my letter with grace and appreciation. I decided there were a few things I could do with the extended time of grace from God on this matter and decided I must speak kindly on this important topic to God.

The Mirage of Same-Sex Marriage

In her statement released on Tuesday, May 13, 2014  U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale said, “After careful consideration, the Court finds Idaho’s Marriage Laws unconstitutional.”  (full ruling)

I thought that I should read the ruling before offering a response. I’ve just finished reading the ruling. Wow, that was not easy.

First the positive effect of reading the ruling; my vocabulary has now deepened. The value of reading the ruling will help me know how to express my thoughts. I now know what I’m responding to.

The ruling will not go into place until Friday morning. Unless a stay on the ruling is issued, by the ninth circuit court of appeals requested by Gov. Butch Otter, county clerks will be required by law to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Now, an early response of concern; as one charged by my church to be a pillar and buttress of truth, I must speak against the ruling from the vantage point of Holy Scripture.

From Judge Dale’s conclusion (V Conclusion, page 55)

“The Plaintiffs are entitled to extraordinary remedies because of their extraordinary injuries. Idaho’s Marriage Laws withhold from them a profound and personal choice, one that most can take for granted. By doing so, Idaho’s Marriage Laws deny same-sex couples the economic, practical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of marriage, relegating each couple to a stigmatized, second-class status. Plaintiffs suffer these injuries not because they are unqualified to marry, start a family, or grow old together, but because of who they are and whom they love.”


To U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale,

No, U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale, regardless of your decision on the matter, marriage is an order given to humanity by God for His glory. I respect that you have made a significant decision for Idaho, but your decision is not in defense of the creator of marriage. This is no simple ruling you have made, it has lasting ramifications.

This indeed is a complicated ruling.

Obviously homosexuals and heterosexuals are equal citizens and equally capable of accomplishing amazing feats. This orientation of sexual attraction does not declare one superior to another. All of humanity face problematic conflicts with what God has ordained holy and acceptable. We have laws that forbid certain actions based on the welfare of all. Polygamist are forbidden by federal law to attain a marriage license  for more than one spouse. This limitation is not a discrimination against this person’s ability or value to culture. It is a limitation based on the definition of the word marriage.

The ruling today is not a ruling for homosexuals. God is opposed to those who practice homosexuality. Homosexuals in Idaho are loved by God and given strength to overcome the attraction of their wretched heart that wants to do that which is offensive to God. Just as adulterers are called on to not give in to their sinful craving of being disloyal to their spouse. Liars must not be allowed to live out their debase craving of deceiving the federal government on their tax reporting. Giving the homosexual the ‘right’ to marriage is no favor as you suppose. It may afford them secular benefits, as you surely argue, but where is your jurisdiction to rule on things spiritual?

My response is not to defend heterosexuals. Heterosexuals are equally capable of offending God. My response is from my duty to speak for biblical truth. For the welfare of homosexuals and heterosexuals who reside in the great state of Idaho, repent of your ruling.


To Governor Butch Otter,

Where I’m thankful for your bold stand against same-sex marriage and upholding the law of Idaho, I am concerned about your defense. Fundamentally we agree that marriage is an institution between one man and one woman. However, marriage is not “an ancient and traditional child-centered institution, one focused first and foremost on the welfare of children rather than the emotional interests of adults.”

Marriage is an institution ordained by God focused first and foremost on His glory. A blessing of marriage between male and female is children. Yes, I agree with you in that a family is the optimal place for a child to be raised, and that family is with a mom and dad, but this is not the defense of marriage. It is good argument for a child’s welfare but not a defense of marriage between a man and a woman.

Thank you for your work on this matter. I am praying for you. I am praying for your staff. I am praying for Idaho. May the glory of God be your defense of marriage.


For further help, consider reading The Mirage of Life 

SBC LIFE

Today the Baptist Press article that ran at Baptist Press last month was in print at SBCLIFE, a journal of the Southern Baptist Convention on page 16.

Here is a link to the SBCLIFE article. With some additional information from the Southern Baptist Executive Committee.

The part of greatest joy for me in this is that for the past 12 months God has been using Eastside Baptist Church to be involved in something bigger than we could imagine. New Horizon Home, a ministry of Eastside Baptist Church, is moving our 20 girls into a new home this weekend and preparing to receive 10 more girls in need of a home.

Where it is a pleasure to look back and see the kind hand of God  in a difficult season of life, I can’t stop blessing the Lord for His ongoing kindness to use this church in Idaho to provide food, housing, care, spiritual teaching and education to our daughters in Haiti.

GE

Now Unto Him Who is Able

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 NASB)

Dear Alex my dearly beloved brother in Christ,

We (Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls, Idaho) greet you this evening in the powerful name of Jesus the Christ! Please greet your wife and children, please give my love to your father and mother. I want for you to speak to the sisters who faithfully tend to the work of the Lord at New Horizon Home. Please, make sure they know that Renee and I love them. Please inform them that Eastside Baptist Church is pleased with their labor as though they are caring for our own daughters.

It is with joy in the Lord, that I inform you that God has answered our need and has made the way for you to begin moving the girls, the beautiful girls, to their new house.

As you know, we are only able to do what God provides. His word declares He is able. It declares that not only is He able, but He is able to do. It declares that not only is He able to do, but that He is able to do far more. It not only declares that He is able to do far more, but it declares that He is able to do far more abundantly. It not only declares that He is able to do far more abundantly, but He is able to do fare more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, and that, according to the power that works within us. Yes! to Him only be the glory in the church today and in Christ Jesus to all generations and nations of the world. May we declare His mighty name.

Tonight (May 2, 2014) a people belonging to God, who associate themselves together for the glory of the Lord and the advancement of His gospel, known as Southern Baptist; churches of the Magic Valley Baptist Association have generously obeyed their Lord, Jesus the Christ, and have given $5,000.00 US dollars for the first year lease for the new home for our girls.

Please tell the girls of the mighty hand of God. Please tell them of His provision for them for His glory. May the favor of the Lord rest upon their souls. May we all delight in God.

Be sure when you pay for the first year lease that you inform the owner of the Lord’s kindness today. Make sure that all praise is given to our Lord! Jesus the Christ, the son of the Living God!

I greet you in the name of the Lord, Jesus the Christ! The name of the Lord is a strong tower and those who run to Him will be saved. Run! run to the Lord. Amen!

Paul Thompson
Eastside Baptist Church, Twin Falls, Idaho

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