Month: January 2012

The World Wide (Religious) WebLeave a comment

The World Wide Religious Web for Tuesday, January 31, 2012

georgepwood

BECAUSE IT’S EASIER TO BE A BOY: Why Young Men Aren’t Manning Up. Young men are being shaped by prolonged adolescence and perceived obsolescence, and powerful social forces are at work to keep them that way. For instance, a much-publicized Relevant magazine article highlighted a study that found 80 percent of evangelical Christians have had premarital sex, slightly below the 88 percent mark of society at large. Sex is readily available and as a motivator for pursuing marriage seems all but off the table. Fear of divorce further undermines the draw of marriage. For another example, I’ve already hinted at … Continue reading The World Wide Religious Web for Tuesday, January 31, 2012

1 Thessalonians, The Daily WordLeave a comment

The Good Life’s Complicated Calculus (1 Thessalonians 3:6–8)

georgepwood

What is the good life? It is not having a pulse, at least not merely. Having a pulse is a necessary condition of the good life, of course, but it is not sufficient. A good life requires more. It is not experiencing pleasure either, at least not simply. Of course, pleasure is generally better than pain. (I am a chronic pain sufferer, so I know whereof I speak.) But not all pleasures are created equal. Not only is the pleasure of doing right better than the pleasure of doing wrong, but even the pain of rightdoing is better than the … Continue reading The Good Life’s Complicated Calculus (1 Thessalonians 3:6–8)

The World Wide (Religious) WebLeave a comment

The World Wide Religious Web for Monday, January 30, 2012

georgepwood

THE EVANGELICALIZATION OF PENTECOSTALISM: The Pentecostal Paradox: As the Global Church Grows, American Tongues Fall Silent. But while more mainstream evangelical churches have borrowed charismatic styles of worship and thus become more “pentecostalized,” Pentecostal churches in North America are moving away in public worship gatherings from the more demonstrative expressions of spiritual gifts, such as messages in tongues with interpretation, prayers for healing and prophecy. In many cases, churches and megachurches have chosen to relegate glossolalia and other charisms to Sunday night services or small groups and, in some cases and settings, according to church historian Dr. Stanley Burgess, “it … Continue reading The World Wide Religious Web for Monday, January 30, 2012

1 Thessalonians, The Daily Word2 Comments

Advice for Parents Who Want Their Children to Follow Jesus (1 Thessalonians 3;1-5)

georgepwood

Every night since my son Reese was born, I have prayed this prayer for him as I put him to sleep: “Jesus, I ask that Reese would follow you from an early age.” Because Reese is three years old, it is easy for me and my wife Tiffany to create the conditions for this prayer to be answered. We attend church, pray and read the Bible together, and model the kind of life we think a Christ-follower should live. But there will come a day when Reese has grown up and must choose for himself whether and how to follow … Continue reading Advice for Parents Who Want Their Children to Follow Jesus (1 Thessalonians 3;1-5)

Book Reviews1 Comment

Review of “Christian Apologetics: Past and Present,” Volume 2

georgepwood

Christian Apologetics: Past and Present is a two-volume compendium of primary sources that document the variety of reasons Christians have given in defense of their faith over the two millennia of its existence. This second volume covers the period from 1500 to the present. The authors divide it into four parts: (1) “The Reformation, Post-Reformation (Protestant), and Catholic Reformation”; (2) “Modernity and the Challenge of Reason,” from roughly the late 17th through the mid-19th centuries; (3) “The Global Era: Christian Faith and a Changing World,” which covers the mid-19th through early 20th centuries; and (4) “Issues Today and Tomorrow,” which … Continue reading Review of “Christian Apologetics: Past and Present,” Volume 2

1 Thessalonians, The Daily Word1 Comment

Destined for Trials (1 Thessalonians 3:3–4)

georgepwood

Many American Christians assume that if they believe and God and do what is right, God will bless them. Sometimes, this takes the extreme form of the Word of Faith theology, which assures believers that God will give them what they confess. If they confess health, they will be healthy. If they confess wealth, they will be wealthy. Popularly, this extreme is known as the Prosperity Gospel, the Health-Wealth movement, and Positive Confession—or more derisively, Name It and Claim It or Blab It and Grab It. More often, however, this assumption takes the form of America as a Christian nation. … Continue reading Destined for Trials (1 Thessalonians 3:3–4)

Assemblies of God, MinistryDirect, PodcastsLeave a comment

Ask the Superintendent with Dr. George O. Wood (January 23, 2011)

georgepwood

In this video, I interview Dr. George O. Wood about current events and pressing issues in the Assemblies of God. He addresses a range of issues, including the plight of Iranian AG adherents who have been arrested by the government, the consolidation of the three national AG schools, the involvement of AG pastors in politics, and many more. Dr. Wood is general superintendent of the Assemblies of God in the United States. He’s also my dad. Ask the Superintendent with Dr. George O. Wood …, posted with vodpod Continue reading Ask the Superintendent with Dr. George O. Wood (January 23, 2011)