Stories

By the Rev. Jonathan Dinger

For The Journal

I would argue that every person has a set of presuppositions when addressing issues of importance.  When considering the claims of Christians and Scripture, perhaps it would be fair to say that our presuppositions take one of two positions:

The testimonies about Jesus in the Bible are true.

The testimonies about Jesus in the Bible are false.

How we arrive at a personal understanding about the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth, then, is based almost entirely upon our conclusions regarding the testimonies we possess:  Biblical, ancient church fathers, and extra-biblical sources.

I am a fan of the "Law and Order" TV series.  It’s engaging to me because it is a mix of “art and science.”  My rational side is satisfied by the collection of data from forensics, ballistics, fingerprinting, and other scientific data.  While these empirical data are important, the detectives also use a variety of less-... (more)

By Rev. Jonathan M. Dinger

Came across a great book the other day.  As a Civil War buff, I’m intrigued by the history surrounding Abraham Lincoln.  In this latest book on Lincoln, the author asserted that Lincoln not only had several mistresses, but there is strong reason to think that he may have had more than one male lover!  Amazing.  In addition, did you know that Lincoln was using the “distraction” of the Civil War at home to secretly plot an overthrow of Russia – hoping to invade Eastern Russia from Canada and then Alaska?  This was proposed by his Secretary of State William Seward, who knew the strategic value of Alaska and its relationship to Russia.  And finally, were you aware that Lincoln’s contemporary political allies in the GOP party after his assassination “rewrote” the histories surrounding Lincoln so that none of this information would find its way to the public which was prepared to “deify” the Great Emancipator... (more)

By Rev. Jonathan M. Dinger

Several weeks ago, an opinion was shared regarding the idea that Christians do not know well the doctrines of their faith.  It was said that few churches teach doctrine and that many “facts” regarding the historical Jesus or the Biblical record are unknown to them.  (By the way, our Lutheran church teaches doctrine in both worship and Bible classes every week which anyone is welcome to attend.)  These “facts” (a recitation of liberal, historical critical positions) were then shared.

With a series of articles, it is my hope to share information “from the other side.”  No, this is not simply doing “bumper sticker theology” which as I define it is:  “God said it, that settles it.”  We need better answers than that.  We need to, as the disciple Peter tells us: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this... (more)

Several critics of my columns that deal with religious issues seem to have settled upon a response to them that is beguilingly simple and seems to cover all my arguments with remarkable effectiveness. It is this: Since Hitchcock is an atheist, he simply doesn’t understand religion or the religious.

    This response raises interesting questions. To begin with, how is it, exactly, that being an atheist affects my understanding? Do my critics claim that someone who believes that there is a God — say a Jew or a Muslim — couldn’t have written what I have written about the inconsistencies in the New Testament, or the probable religious views of the historical Jesus?  Surely they could have done, and, no doubt, my critics would have accused them, too, of “not understanding.” But doesn’t it follow that it isn’t just my atheism that makes my comprehension deficient?

    What matters, pretty clearly, is not that I’m an atheist, but that I’m not a Christian, and hence... (more)

By the Rev. Phil Meyer

   It is wonderful to live in a community in which the local newspaper is open to printing “faith-based” articles and commentaries. I suspect that the Idaho State Journal is more open to that than most, and if you’ve never thought about that, I would encourage you to thank Ian Fennell, the editor, at least in your mind, if not by phone call.  

    With what I would suspect is a majority in our community that claim one faith or another, I find it refreshing that our newspaper supports the sharing of thoughts and ideas.

    I had a professor in my younger years that taught a concept that I’ve never forgotten. He used to say quite often that “faith is surely a personal thing, but it ought never be a private thing.” Think about the differences in those two words for just a moment. “Personal” obviously means that one’s faith is a matter of one’s own heart, and truth be told, there is no way, really, for another person to truly judge what is in another... (more)

By Glenn Rawson

    Before David faced Goliath, there was another hero who faced down the Philistines. His name was Jonathon. The trumpet sounded throughout all Israel. The Philistines were angry and gathered for war against Israel. They were huge in number. When the men of Israel saw what a tough spot they were in, they ran and hid themselves in “caves, and in thickets, in rocks ..., and in pits;” some even left the country. It was a time of national panic. Those who remained with Saul the King, only 600, trembled with fear. Fear is defined as a feeling of anxiety, concern, or dread that makes us want to avoid or run from a problem.

    Seeing all this, Jonathon, the King’s son, came up with a bold plan. Telling no one, he and his armor-bearer quietly slipped out of camp and climbed a pass overlooking the Philistine garrison.

    Jonathon said as he looked down on them, “Let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised (that means not of the covenant); it may... (more)

By Ed Jordan

    This last week I read an article in Time Magazine by Steven Johnson, in which he explored the cultural phenomenon of people sharing extraordinarily private and intimate things about themselves on  Internet sites like Facebook. He was commenting how many people seem to gain a false impression of popularity or fame merely because they share intimate information with hundreds of strangers via the Internet. But just because someone is listed as a “friend” in Facebook does not mean that the person could be depended upon when the bottom drops out of your life.

    Johnson also noted that there used to be a huge separation between one’s intimate private life, and the part of life they would expose to the public. That crevasse, that used to be a buffer between private and public information, has now become a valley where one’s privacy collides with that “of a person you could imagine being friends or colleagues with, but aren't. Call it the valley of intimate strangers.... (more)

By Leonard Hitchcock

    This column is addressed to the ministers and priests of Pocatello, and to their congregations. I have long observed, as both a teacher and someone with the annoying habit of talking with people about religion, that Christians, on the whole, are remarkably ignorant about their faith. Often, when discussing religion with someone, I have discovered that I, an atheist, both know and care more about Christian doctrine and its history than those who profess that they are believers and regular church goers.   

    Why is this the case? The obvious answer is: Christians are not being taught about their faith by their spiritual leaders. Yet priests and ministers are, for the most part, knowledgeable about Christianity. A prominent professor of religious studies, Bart Ehrman, reports that students in all the major seminaries receive the best and most up-to-date information about theology, pastoring, Biblical scholarship and the history of Christianity. ... (more)

Pocatello Baptist Church would like to invite the community to join them for a great time of fun and learning at Neighborhood Bible Time.

Neighborhood Bible Time features games, stories, music, refreshments, rewards and Bible lessons for children going into first grade through sixth grade.

A separate program for teenagers, called “Warrior Wars”, will include exciting competition, active games, and Bible teaching for teenagers going into seventh grade through high school.

There will also be a Parenting Class offered for interested adults.

All of these Neighborhood Bible Time activities will be held each evening of the week of June 28th through July 3rd at the Pocatello Baptist Church on the corner of Wilson Street and Chapel Road, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Please call the church at 237-4915 if you have any questions.

CHRISTIANS STILL DIE-HEAR THE TRUTH-IT DIDN'T END IN ROME

The Voice of The Martyrs  will hold a  FREE regional conference at host church: Deer Flat Free Methodist, 17703 Beet Rd., Caldwell, ID.  83607. 

Saturday May 2nd, 2009  –  9am-4pm                                                       

This ministry was started over 40 years ago by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who spent 14 years in a Romanian prison under torture. Romania was Communist at the time.  He was ransomed to let the world know that persecution, such as in the book of Acts…, still exists today.  His wife, Sabina, was imprisoned for 3 years.  They trusted God for the welfare of their 8 yr. old son. 

If Peter and Paul were alive today, would you come to listen?  Two of our five speakers were imprisoned for Christ.  Sarah in China for 6 years and Reverend Okhotin from Russia during the Mikhail Gorbachev regime with dozens and dozens of other pastors. He would have died in prison had it not been for Ronald Regan's intervention.   

Our 3 other speakers:  Jony... (more)

Sarah and Emerson are convinced that a truth hidden in plain sight for 2000 years can make a difference in every marriage. This truth is found in Ephesians 5:33. Husbands must love their wives and wives must respect their husbands.

Emerson writes, "You may remember how the Beatles sang, 'All you need is love.' I absolutely disagree with that conclusion. Five out of ten marriages today are ending in divorce because love alone is not enough.... (more)

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of the sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." proclaims Pastor Jacqualine Theresa Thomas.

Pastor Thomas extends her appreciation and thanks to those who participated in her First Annual Pastor's Anniversary banquet on September 9th, 2007. The evening was such a tremendous victory for the community of Pocatello. Religious leaders, community members and an inter-Faith Mass Choir, under the direction of Praise Temple of God's Music Minister, Stephanie Evans, cam together to celebrate a year of spiritual growth. Mach hard work went into the planning of the first anniversary celebration.

"The Word speaks of God's desire for us to come together, says Thomas, "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance... (more)

Pocatello Baptist Church Presents

"Share Jesus Without Fear"

Would you like to share the Good News of Salvation in Jesus with family, friends and complete strangers, but sometimes don't know where to start? If there were a non-threatening, non-intimidating way to communicate the truth of the Gospel, would you want to know?  You can be comfortable sharing your faith with anyone.  Pocatello baptist Church, 190 W Chapel Road, Pocatello, will present a 4 week study based on "Share Jesus Without Fear" by William Fay. The study will take place Thursday evenings from 7:00 - 8:00 beginning September 6th.  Call Pastor Colan Deatherage at 237-4915 for questions and registration.