Welcome:

We thank you for visiting with us today. We are a church that is Baptist in doctrine, in other words we take what we believe from the Bible, and we try to teach and preach only what the Bible declares. If you would like to learn more about us please ask or look up our church web-site: http://idahobaptist.com

Prayer Requests:

Bro. Seth Stewart - Diabetes.

Bro. Steve Kjeldgaard - Leukemia.

Bro. Bill Asmundson - Leukemia.

Schedule:

Today's Nursery Worker - Marah Kjeldgaard.

Music Next Week - Jenny, Jackie & Sara.

Special Meetings - F. Keener - October 4-10.

Next Fellowship Sunday - September 19^th.

Men's Prayer Meeting - Saturday, 6:30 a.m.

Word of the Week :

"Pettifogger" (pµt"¶-f¼g"…r, -fô"g…r) n. Definition: A petty, quibbling, unscrupulous lawyer. One who quibbles over trivia. Biblical usage: "Woe unto you, (pettifoggers)! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered" (Luke 11:52).

Don't forget Camp Fees...

Pastor and Mrs O ... will be going on vacation August 30^th. We still need a volunteer to bring a devotional for Wednesday, September 1st. Please contact the pastor.

Services:

Sunday School - 10:00 a.m. - Joshua 2

Morning Service - 11:00 a.m. - "Those Written in the Book"

Evening Service - 6:00 p.m. - "Principles of Resurrection"

Wednesday Service - 7:00 p.m. - Study of the Life of David

Memory Verse:

This week: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).

Next week: "And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go" (Joshua 1:16).

A new decalogue has ... been adopted by the neo-Christians of our day, the first words of which read, 'Thou shalt not disagree.' And a new set of Beatitudes too, which begins, 'Blessed are they that tolerate everything, for they shall not be made accountable for anything.' It is now the accepted thing to talk over religious differences with the understanding that no one will try to convert another or point out errors in his belief. Imagine Moses agreeing to take part in a panel discussion with Israel over the golden calf, or Elijah engaging in a gentlemanly dialogue with the prophets of Baal. Or try to picture our Lord Jesus Christ seeking a meeting of minds with the Pharisees to iron out their differences. The blessing of God is promised to the peacemaker, but the religious negotiator had better watch his step. Darkness and light can never be brought together by talk. Some things are not negotiable." - A.W. Tozer

Tony Blair ... (former Prime Minister of Great Britain) has this thing about God and faith. He thinks they're important. Sometimes, this lands him in hot water.

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., recently, Britain's former prime minister related an amusing anecdote: During a crisis, he wanted to close an address to his nation with "God bless the British people." "This caused complete consternation," recalled Blair. "Emergency meetings were convened. The system was aghast."

As Blair tried to defend his choice of words, "a senior civil servant said, with utter disdain: 'Really, Prime Minister, this is not America you know.' "

Blair's Washington audience roared. Now free to speak his mind, the former PM--whose press secretary once famously told reporters, "We don't do God" -- has been talking a lot about God and faith.

Addressing the D.C. gathering, Blair affirmed faith as a significant force for good in the world. Decrying both religious extremists and aggressive secularists, he commended the billions whom faith inspires to caring, sacrifice, and good works. Said he, "Faith is not . . . acting according to ritual but . . . according to God's will. . . ."

Blair described his "first spiritual awakening" when he was 10. His 40-year-old father had a life-threatening stroke and his mother, seeking to preserve some stability in the crisis, sent young Tony to school. When his teacher knelt to pray with him, Tony felt obliged to explain that his father, a "militant atheist," didn't believe in God. "That doesn't matter," replied the teacher. "God believes in him. He loves him without demanding or needing love in return." Leo Blair survived and now is 85.

"That is what inspires," commented Blair in Washington, "the unconditional nature of God's love. In surrendering to God, we become instruments of that love."

Blair cautioned the breakfast's international audience of leaders: "The 21st Century will be poorer in spirit, meaner in ambition, less disciplined in conscience, if it is not under the guardianship of faith in God."

Reflecting on his own experience, Blair acknowledged the courage that faith can provide when leadership's challenges become overwhelming. He wished President Obama faith-strengthened leadership: "Mr. President, you are fortunate, as is your nation, that you have already shown in your life, courage in abundance. But should it ever be tested, I hope your faith can sustain you. And your family."

As we listened to Blair, we were intrigued to hear this seasoned statesman, who currently works to facilitate Middle East peace, call for restoring faith "to its rightful place, as the guide to our world and its future." Careful to advocate "the correct distinction between . . . religious and political authority," Blair seemed to call individuals, not governments, to faith. He explained the need: "there are limits . . . beyond [which] . . . only God can work."

According to Blair, faith engenders humility. "We can forgive, but only God forgives completely in the full knowledge of our sin. And only through God comes grace; and it is God's grace that is unique."Blair's sentiments reminded us of the biblical Paul, who wrote, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Blair cited British slave-trader-turned-pastor and hymn writer John Newton, who wrote in "Amazing Grace": "Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved."

"It is through faith, by the Grace of God," claimed Blair, "that we have the courage to live as we should and die as we must."

Sobering thoughts, capped by his clever B.C. closing line: "And by the way, God bless you all." - R. Wright & M. Korpi, The Sun: San Bernardino, CA.

Ghost, n: ... The outward and visible sign of an inward fear. - A. Bierse