Freak Alley, Boise

With my boys in Boise

Still processing the America Trip.

This one goes with "with my nieces in Nice" from way back. See here.

If I had wings

On Freak Alley in Boise
(Artist Hannah Buekels. She references Isaiah 40:1 - we'll say more on that in a later post I hope).

Lord's Day April 14 2019

We are in Boise Idaho at the present visiting our son. We attended on Sunday the church he has been attending, The Well. Church website here. The premises are on an out of town retail site and are nothing to look at but once inside it is a good building, catering for church and other activities.

As is usual in the States we began with Sunday School. This was led by elder Arlan Roest, looking at Question 29 of the New City Catechism (How can I be saved? Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him). See here.

The main service was led by another elder, Sean Cope and the preacher was the pastor Josh Bale. The music was the usual drums, etc combo on stage (not sure why they need to be in full view). He is working through 2 Peter and has reached Chapter 3. He spoke on millennialism, explaining the different views and advocating an amillennial one. We have known about this church for many years as a family member is a big fan so it was good to finally be there. The church is a young church with about a hundred adults and a hundred children or so. The Reformed faith is perhaps quite weak in this part of the world and it is good to see at least one church (there are others) teaching such things.

Reformation Boise Conference - 2018

Thought you might like to see this as it not only advertises a conference in the church where my son currently attends but he had a big hand in putting the video together (look out for the young man in the green hoody). For more info see here 

My Boy's in Boise

At a fairly early hour this morning we heard from Boise, Idaho that my son has safely arrived and can now belatedly begin his year of studies in the State University. He left us 10 days ago, flying via Canada. When he arrived in Vancouver, however, he discovered that he had no US visa and so was delayed while that was sorted out. He slept in the airport the first night but then bumped into some he knew vaguely (I know) and she was able to provide a sofa. As it became clear that things were going to take time he was able to go and stay with relatives of mine on Vancouver Island. He did have to spend one or two nights in a hostel. It has cost time and money and been a pain but overall it hasn't been too bad and we are thankful to God.

It is always good to think through God's providences. There were plenty of negatives - not getting the visa right, the fact the Vancouver US Consulate closes on the third Wednesday of the month, the day he needed first needed it, etc. However, there were lots of positives too.

1. He has finally reached Boise and not too late having missed only induction and four days

2. It was good for him to depend on the Lord and that we and others were stirred up to pray for him

3. It is good that he came to no harm during all his time in the big city

4. What a providence that he should bump into my daughter-in-law's friend and be able spend time with her

5. It is good that he had time to do some sightseeing in Vancouver which would probably not have happened otherwise

6. Another providence was being able to stay with my aunt and uncle who were so very kind

7. Let's not forget what a wonderful thing the Internet is in enabling him to keep in touch with us

8. What a blessing the 'phone was. He had thought of not taking it as it is too expensive to use stateside but was able to whatsapp us whenever he was in wi-fi range

9. We were glad that he got to church on the Lord's Day morning at a Calvary Baptist Church in Chemainus. He did link up by phone with the son of a friend but he was further away which was a pity.

10. I am not sure whether going via Canada was for the best or not. His first crisis came in Gatwick when they made him get an esta for Canada. If he had been flying directly to America maybe they would not have let him leave the UK. That might have resulted in greater financial loss, not been any quicker and, of course, he would not have had the adventures he has had. The mystery of providence.
(I should add that in the pic my boy is still in Vancouver)