Pure Foolishness http://joelenochwood.com The Gospel is Foolishness to the World posterous.com Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:08:00 -0700 Yes. Stole this from Joe Thorn's blog... http://joelenochwood.com/yes-stole-this-from-joe-thorns-blog http://joelenochwood.com/yes-stole-this-from-joe-thorns-blog

Beard

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:37:03 -0700 Encouragement in Preaching http://joelenochwood.com/encouragement-in-preaching http://joelenochwood.com/encouragement-in-preaching Noah preached for 100 years.

In the end, 8 people were saved.

All of the church members were his family.

Who hired this clearly irrelevant, non-charismatic, ineffective, pastor whose only claim to fame is having been a blue-collar, lay pastor?!?

Oh... yeah... the same guy who hired me.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:44:38 -0700 Making Theological Statements http://joelenochwood.com/making-theological-statements http://joelenochwood.com/making-theological-statements

P113

Speaking against a doctrinal statement or confession of faith IS a doctrinal statement. Any who say simplistically: "I just believe what the Bible teaches," will, in the end, recite a confession of faith, either anemic or robust, if they answer the question "What does the Bible teach?" with anything other than a bare-faced reading of Scripture texts, and all of them, at that!

Danny Hyde handles this well in his work Welcome to a Reformed Church.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:22:02 -0700 Walking Humbly http://joelenochwood.com/walking-humbly http://joelenochwood.com/walking-humbly Somehow life was easier before I became convinced of what my God was going to do through me. He has shown me what to do, given me the life & power to do it, and now He will do WITH, IN, and THROUGH me what He wills.

Mic. 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:31:50 -0700 Open Heart Surgery http://joelenochwood.com/open-heart-surgery http://joelenochwood.com/open-heart-surgery Ezek. 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

My friend, Ruling Elder, and godly example, Don Reed, had triple bypass surgery yesterday afternoon. He found out he needed it yesterday morning. Well, he really found out a week ago Wednesday on the treadmill: eight minutes of pain down both arms and feeling like he'd been shot in the chest with a cannonball.

He needed a new heart. And a physician to give it to him.

Don's story is like unto the work of the Holy Spirit in the gospel. He gives us signs, sometimes quite drastically, that we need a new heart. In the end, though, we need the great physician to give it to us. And, like Don was told, not asked, if he would like it, so, we, too, are told, "You will be receiving a new heart. You need it to live. And I want you to live." Done.

How deep the Father's love for us.!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:07:00 -0700 Christ's High Glory http://joelenochwood.com/christs-high-glory http://joelenochwood.com/christs-high-glory

Everyone who loves the Lord Jesus Christ, when he fully understands what is here meant, must delight in the contemplation of the high glory to which God the Father has exalted Him, who is all our salvation, and all our desire. – James R. Willson

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:53:00 -0700 Pure Religion? http://joelenochwood.com/pure-religion http://joelenochwood.com/pure-religion

Wednesday I'm lecturing (will be trying to create conversation) on the religious background of the 4 gospels.  It is interesting, as we are using Craig Blomberg's "Jesus & the Gospels" text, how many ancient pagan religions, as described by Blomberg's sources, have taken over quadrants of Christianity.  The most interesting to me was the mystery religions... having an erie similarity to modern secret societies... and evangelical christianity... Have you ever heard something like this?  "[Our goal is] not to learn something, but to experience something."  That was the goal of these ancient mystery religions.

The danger here is in putting experience above biblically, spiritual data (i.e. truth).  In other words, Scripture must drive our understanding of experience. It must interpret it, categorize it, and evaluate it.  Have you ever heard a distinction between "head knowledge" and "heart knowledge."  Anyone out there prefer to drone on in worship, not even considering what one is singing, until euphoria is reached?  I've been guilty.

The fact is, pure religion, religion unstained by the world, involves outward action for the benefit of others.  It utilizes knowledge to drive our experience... and our action.  It's not just what I know (head), or what I experience/believe (heart), but it also works itself out of me, into the lives of others (hands).  Head, heart, hands.  Seems like that phrase is popping up more and more lately.

Head. Heart. Hands.  Is your goal to simply experience something?  Sign up for an ancient mystery religion.  Is your goal to change the world, through understanding better what God tells us in His Word?  Sign up for Pure Foolishness... the Gospel, that is.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:02:00 -0700 Jesus http://joelenochwood.com/jesus http://joelenochwood.com/jesus

Today I signed a contract to teach "Jesus" to upper level undergraduates at Sterling College.  Frankly, a dream come true.  I so loved my undergraduate experience, that I've dreamed for years to impact young people in the same way.  As I step into this new roll, I'm trying to keep a few things in mind:

1.  Scholarship and humility do not often go hand in hand... neither do youth and humility.  I want to have a peaceful, yet challenging learning environment, not a firefight!
2.  This opportunity IS ministry... note a resume builder.
3.  This semester long class has eternal implications.

I want to do more than teach them Jesus.  I want to give them Jesus.  May his name be praised!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:18:00 -0700 What is personal covenanting? http://joelenochwood.com/what-is-personal-covenanting http://joelenochwood.com/what-is-personal-covenanting

Q. What is personal covenanting? A. It is the distinct exercise of a person in giving himself to the Lord as his God in Christ, and engaging to. walk in his ways, upon the ground of the free promise of the covenant of grace, while he is pouring out his heart in prayer, having set apart some time expressly for that purpose. (A CATECHISM, SETTING FORTH THE PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC COVENANTING. BY John Anderson D. D.)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Fri, 11 Mar 2011 23:47:14 -0800 It bears repeating... http://joelenochwood.com/it-bears-repeating http://joelenochwood.com/it-bears-repeating In discussing Wesley & Whitefield, along with Edwards and the Great Awakening today at our Tapestry of Grace Co-op, I was asked to share some pastoral/biblical counsel on manifestations of the Spirit in connection with conversion along with what the ongoing work of the Spirit looks like. I couldn't resist... had to take these young people to RPT 2.8:
> 8. The special work of the Holy Spirit is to apply to the elect the redeem- ing benefits of Christ’s atonement. The outward and ordinary means through which He communicates the knowledge of redemption is the written Word, in which is infallibly recorded the will of God for man’s salvation. He prepares for the reception of the Word and accompanies it with His persuasive power. He regenerates the elect by His grace, convicts them of sin, moves them to repentance and persuades and enables them to embrace Christ through faith. In re- generation He works secretly, super- naturally and effectually. This work is in itself so distinct and necessary, that without it, no evidence of the truth of the Gospel, no power of argument, no persuasion of love or of terror, no human eloquence, no combination of the most favorable circumstances, can be effectual in producing salvation. John 3:1-8; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Pet. 1:21; 2 Sam. 23:2; John 7:39; John 16: 13; Titus 3:5; Ezek. 36:27; 1 John 4:2; Gal. 4:6; 2 Thess. 2:13.
Ah... beauty. You can check out the entire harmony of the WCF and the RPT here: www.reformedpresbyterian.org

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:25:38 -0800 And the $1 Item I couldn't live without 16 years ago? http://joelenochwood.com/and-the-1-item-i-couldnt-live-without-16-year http://joelenochwood.com/and-the-1-item-i-couldnt-live-without-16-year
Photo_on_2011-02-23_at_14

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Sun, 12 Dec 2010 23:07:00 -0800 Of Means & Basis http://joelenochwood.com/2010/12/of-means-basis.html http://joelenochwood.com/2010/12/of-means-basis.html

RPT11.2 - Faith in Christ is the only MEANS of justification.  The imputed righteousness of Christ is the only BASIS for justification.

This is the Reformed Presbyterian Testimonies comment on WCF11.2 which says:

Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ, and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.

In other words, sanctification logically and always flows from justification. Not the other way around, not co-mingled, but separate, distinct and contingent.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Sun, 12 Dec 2010 03:22:00 -0800 Of Fame & Faith http://joelenochwood.com/2010/12/of-fame-faith.html http://joelenochwood.com/2010/12/of-fame-faith.html

Roger Nicole is in heaven now.  Reading Justin Taylor's obituary, this statement caught my eye:


"He was, by common consent, a theological giant. But because he never wrote a book and didn’t travel the conference circuit, many evangelicals have not heard of him, to our detriment."


I, for one, get much too caught up in the glitterings of my profession.  Will I ever get to write?  Teach in a seminary?  Speak at... even HEADLINE... a national or international conference??  I don't know.  But it is a huge encouragement that a man who massively impacted the theological world of his day didn't write a book.  Sounds weird to say.  He wasn't popular at any of the new-fangled conferences.  


He was a displaced foreigner with no physical children, who didn't write a book, but gave his life teaching the faith to generations of men & women.


Sounds like someone else I know...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:47:00 -0700 Of Church Order & Family Matters http://joelenochwood.com/2010/06/of-church-order-family-matters.html http://joelenochwood.com/2010/06/of-church-order-family-matters.html These last 2 days have left me with much to say and no position from which to say it.  AKA... I am an infant among men who are wise, mature, and understanding of God's Word in ways in which I hope to be in 50 years.  Today, I'm sitting next to Wayne Spear.  He was my Systematics prof at RPTS.  As debate, dialogue, and diatribes have gone on today I've often wanted to crawl inside his mind and process things from his perspective... having been ordained 50 years ago.

One thing is certain... to this former Congregationalist... order is good.  Yes, we debate how best to be orderly and accountable as God is blowing the doors off our ministry efforts in the Sudan.  Yes, we disagree on what the exact metrical translation of some Psalm texts should be. No, we will not stop submitting all to Christ.  He is our King and Head.  We are members, individually & corporately, of him.  We are a family.  An ordered family.  Not a perfect family, but a family, nonetheless.

I've been blessed to reconnect with men, young and old, who poured into my life during very tempestuous days during our time in Pittsburgh.  Those same men are continuing to welcome me to the RPCNA, pour into my life & ministry, and bless me by their prayers, by their love, by their brotherhood... their family-ness.

We laugh, we cry, we debate, we pray.  But due to Christ WE truly are a WE and not a ME & THEE.

Thanks be to God.
Soli deo Gloria...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Wed, 12 May 2010 06:43:00 -0700 Of Calvinism & Calvinism http://joelenochwood.com/2010/05/of-calvinism-calvinism.html http://joelenochwood.com/2010/05/of-calvinism-calvinism.html
I've been considering for some time using titles for my thoughts that contain two seemingly unrelated items, yet drawing them together by the end... that seems "foolish"... and it seemed like no better time to use it than when I could bring together two seemingly OVER-related topics... Calvinism and Calvinism.  Specifically, "New" Calvinism and "Old" Calvinism.  My thoughts specifically pertain to Mark Driscoll's response to Justin Taylor's interview over at Between2Worlds.  You should check out B2W here... very helpful "pointing" blog that helps us process data present out here on the blogosphere.
Now, let me clarify... I like Mark Driscoll.  Some see him as a bag of hot air, others as the "hipster" pastor, I see him as a guy whom God is using to reach Seattle.  Totally Rad.  And I like "The Gospel Coalition" which is the hub of "New Calvinist" activity.  Drawing in the gray-hairs, no hairs, spiked-hairs, and even some combed-over hairs into the Calvinistic fray.  I attended TGC2009.  Great time.  Totally Rad.  Got to meet John Piper face to face & tell him that had I known then (when I attended Moody Bible Institute with his son Ben) what I know now (how much his preaching has impacted me) I would have come home with Ben on every break and probably not left.
Ok, that being said... look with me at the text... I mean the answer Driscoll gives to the final question of the Between 2 Worlds interview found here.  You can see it below... in moderately larger quotes:
"What is the most encouraging thing you see about the so-called “New Calvinism”? What are some areas of caution or concern as we enter this new decade?
I think “New Calvinism” is possibly a myth, and I fear it may fracture before too many years are up.
There are four issues:
  1. Reformed
  2. Complementarian
  3. Charismatic
  4. Missional
I hold all four of these.
What is touted as “New Calvinism,” though, includes those who disagree with 3 and/or 4. My fear is that cessationist and fundamentalist Calvinists will use those two issues to turn distinctions into divisions.
Many are working hard behind the scenes among various tribal leaders to keep the peace, and I pray we can hold it together and truly have a “New Calvinism” and not the same old unnecessary infighting and separation as old Calvinism."
His statement just below the list tells it all.  "I hold all four of these."  What will the problem be? (I would suggest the ONLY issue here is being Biblical... following the GOSPEL.  And expending every effort to discover just what that means.) No.  The thing that will bring down "New Calvinism" won't be fellas not reforming enough.  The issue won't be not keeping Scripture in its primacy in our pulpits.  In short, the issue is not everyone will be like Mark Driscoll.  If we're all like him... holding to all 4 of the issues in "New Calvinism" then we'll all be ok.  So, if your conscience compels you to be a cessationist.  Or a "fundamental" v. "missional"... wow... let's not define any terms here... put your conscience on the shelf.  Don't be like those "Old [Fuddy-duddy] Calvinists" who divided over secondary issues (again, some definitions would be nice) like the purity of worship of a holy God within varying cultural contexts (I'm just guessing here...).  And I'm glad many men are working behind the scenes to keep peace in God's house... for a moment there I thought we would have to expound Psalm 133... Spurgeon does that here.

So what is an "Old Calvinist"?  Well, apparently I are one.  I LOVE dividing, and infighting, and not getting anywhere in ministry... oh... wait... that's not really happening in my church here... um... a cappella Psalmody?  Anyone?  Perhaps holding to at least one of another list of 5 points (Solas or TULIP) rather than the new (arbitrary) list of 4 points.  Seeing oneself as better than another because our credo or praxis is better... oh... wait... so the moment I put you down or am willing to see you walk from the team for not holding to my 4 points I become like those who put others down for not holding to their 5 points... so then the "New" Calvinism becomes just like the "Old" Calvinism... which would make neither "Calvinism" at all.  It makes it sin.  Me-ism is always sin. [You disagreeing with me is unnecessary disagreement, me disagreeing with you is "ok" because I'm right.]  When we can only say "Be like me" without quickly adding "as I'm like Christ!", put it away.  Listen to the other end of the bench.  Maybe the benchwarmers have something to add to the strategy of the game.  After all, the "Old" Calvinists have fought this battle before.  Hey, some of us even had our own army!  That's why we're the "Old" guys... and why you are able to have a "Calvinism" to call your own.  

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:04:00 -0800 WSC #37 http://joelenochwood.com/2010/02/wsc-37.html http://joelenochwood.com/2010/02/wsc-37.html Death.  Where is thy victory?  Death.  Where is thy sting?  2 deaths hit close to home.  What have you accomplished today death?  What victory did you really win by sneaking up on a 94 year old saint?  She woke up fine.  Fell.  Hit her head.  Now she holds your hand.  And how did you sting my friend by stealing her husband in his prime while they were seeking to rear godly children in a  godly home?  He set out on a trip whole.  Now you carry him broken.


Nothing death.  You are a graduation ceremony.  You're the used car salesman in the tacky sport coat that hands us the keys to that car we've always wanted... because we're not yours.  We're his.  You hold our hand simply to help us hop from rock to rock to arrive across the river in the arms of our Savior.  Take that, Death.

Q. 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? 
A. The souls of believers are, at their death, made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves until the resurrection. 
Heb. 12:23; 2 Cor. 5:1, 6, 8; Phil. 1:23; Luke 23:43; 1 Thess. 4:14; Isa. 57:2; Job 19:26-27. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:14:00 -0800 Where are Shiphrah & Puah when you need them? http://joelenochwood.com/2010/01/where-are-shiphrah-puah-when-you-need.html http://joelenochwood.com/2010/01/where-are-shiphrah-puah-when-you-need.html

If such honest reporting were present in the US, more people might get mad about this atrocity within our own nation... also let us not be careful not to romanticize the "Holy Land"...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:59:00 -0800 I'm glad I don't have to remember petty details and can now focus on the important stuff... like what?!? http://joelenochwood.com/2009/11/im-glad-i-dont-have-to-remember-petty.html http://joelenochwood.com/2009/11/im-glad-i-dont-have-to-remember-petty.html

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:45:00 -0700 Evolution Evidence Found http://joelenochwood.com/2009/10/evolution-evidence-found.html http://joelenochwood.com/2009/10/evolution-evidence-found.html Interesting article with a comment from the sponsor of the Harvey Milk legislation stating that Gov. S has "evolved in his thinking here.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:51:00 -0700 We have no desire to replace the local church... http://joelenochwood.com/2009/10/we-have-no-desire-to-replace-local.html http://joelenochwood.com/2009/10/we-have-no-desire-to-replace-local.html that's why we're replacing the local church.  Here we have a church wanting to do a good thing, but the evangelical mainstream has now so equated "worship" with "evangelism" that the distinction can no longer be maintained.  And, yes, there is a distinction.  More often than not, when I read that a church is trying to "engage" culture, it can only mean "adopt" culture.


I know their heart is not to "replace the local church."  But in a techno-savy, spiritually indifferent generation where I already read Facebook updates stating:  "I attended church ONLINE today!", where do our brothers and sisters think this will end up?  Welcome to the new "slash & dash" of Christian worship. 

Welcome to Crossover from Ronnie Floyd on Vimeo.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1016534/Photo_on_2010-05-07_at_10.19.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4SijQZo9dLsR Joel Wood Rev. Wood Joel Wood