We are settling in to our new home here in Boise, ID.
As in any move, we are surrounded by newness at every turn – and we are adjusting one day at a time. A new climate, new neighbors, new street names – the list goes on and on. There is also a new landscape – both physically and spiritually.
In regards to the physical landscape here, we sit at the west side of the Rocky mountains – so we have a beautiful view of mountains both to the east and west of us near the Oregon/Nevada border. In between is a very flat desert that is irrigated for farming closer to the Boise River. Those farms are rapidly becoming a complex maze of subdivisions and strip malls as the area continues to grow.
In regards to the spiritual landscape, it is evident that we are no longer in the Bible belt of the Southeast. It becomes apparent rather quickly that we are in the heart of Mormon culture here (I guess they go by the term LDS now which stands for Latter Day Saints). There are also many other flavors of pseudo-Christian groups here as well.
As I ponder the nature and origins of these various groups and the complexities of their doctrines, I am reminded of the following passage from Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
Follow Jesus Christ. Love God. Love one another. Take care of the poor and those unable to repay you.
It’s a wonderfully simple life!
