I am excited about the upcoming Thanksgiving season.

Can Jesus be praised and thanked as the Most High this Thanksgiving? (more…)

This newspaper article was sitting on my desk when I came back to the office.

“Change by LDS causes a stir” . . . “The next edition of the Book of Mormon has an introduction indicating a possible change in the religion’s view of Indians.”

– The Post Register, Saturday, November 10, 2007 (more…)

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the church family of College Park Baptist Church in Cary, NC tucked inside the white collar triangle.  I am praying today for these brothers and sisters.  Great folks!

And I must mention one of my favorite landmarks in North Carolina:  Elon University.  Hey, I am famous.  For some of you who don’t know my full name, it’s Elon Todd Wood.  E.T. for the short version.  The earlier Hebrew professors rightly named the campus after the particular trees providing shelter and enjoyment for the student body.

And yet as an Idahoan, I am happy to be back in my home area.  Driving down 17^th street to our church building in Ammon, I slowly tagged along behind a 15 passenger van.  Family decals on the back window showed a husband and wife holding hands as eleven children trailed to the right of their picture.  Here are the letters I saw on the license plate:  “QUIVRFL”. (more…)

My wife and I have been observing the mission field of the highly, technological city of Cary, North Carolina.  It is quite a mix.  Hindus.  Buddhists.  Etc.

I am really enjoying the time of fellowship and sessions with the brothers and sisters of College Park Baptist Church in Cary, North Carolina and this year’s missions conference, Courage in the Gospel.  Pastor Matt Walker has me intrigued about the American church planting network through Arch Ministries. 

The weather has been beautiful.  This afternoon, we will be watching Duke’s football team probably get stomped by Georgia Tech.

Noticing the Raleigh North Carolina LDS Temple, I feel right at home as a Southern Idahoan.  I read Gordon B. Hinckley’s prayer of dedication.  He certainly makes a strong case for Elohim as Father in contrast to the Only Begotten Son.  But cannot Jesus be Almighty Elohim?  Are LDS allowed to worship the Lord Jesus Christ in such fashion? (more…)

The movie was filmed in Utah.  Beautiful place, indeed.  But who would have ever thought that this cheesy melodrama with awkward dialogue and worse special effects than “Little House on the Prairie” could strike such a powerful chord in my heart.  I just watched this flick with my three older children.

What is the sin-eater’s name?

 

His name is Jesus.”

My heart ran, soared, and sang with Cadi and the little angel, Lillybet, along that Appalachian mountain ridge, knowing the personal experience of the complete forgiveness of sins, past, present, future – every dark stain on my soul removed forever!

As a youngster, I remember the deep anguish.  How was I to pay for the actions, words, and the iniquitous thoughts that plagued my mind?  I saw God in all glory contrasted to my heartless seeking of personal glory.  For I knew . . . I sought personal gratification.  I reveled in self-pleasure.  I desired and took at the expense of others.  I enjoyed seeing others suffer who hurt me.  I pouted.  I sat in depression when angry at my own limitations and loss.  I lashed out.  I hid from wisdom.  I would be postured wrongly, stubbornly for hours, days on end.  I had a high opinion of my self.  I sought praise.  I sought glory that belonged to Jesus Christ alone.

In a nutshell, the puritan Owen pegged my heart . . . “unintelligent, unfaithful, unnatural, unappeasable, and unmerciful.”

Frankly, I strain over how to properly express my own past undoing and unhappiness.  Raw.  Gnawing.  It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it. 

I thought others had done worse than me.  I was the church boy.  Others even praised me for being such a good boy.  Pride filled me.  But I also knew what others didn’t know.  I was the outward angel but the inward rebel. I truly knew my own heart.  I knew the scriptures said I was worthy of the pain of Hades.  And it rankled me. 

How could I have been so senseless in seeking that which belongs to the Savior alone?  I couldn’t muster up perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect faith, perfect holiness.  Who I was kidding?   I walked enslaved to the prince of the power of the air. But I didn’t want to believe it.  Not me . . . stubbornly entrenched Todd Wood.  Yet my continual self attempts at trying to meet my personal best rather than being obedient in faith to the gospel insulted both the all sufficient work of the Son and the matchless love of His God.  I deserved hell. (more…)

1. Kaimi at Times and Seasons delivers a winner on evening sunsets. How often the Creator of all paints the most beautiful masterpieces. To see such extraordinary canvasses should cause anyone to turn “from vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.” I was with Paul yesterday in the book of Acts. Yes, there are beautiful places in Turkey. But Paul would have gaped with mouth wide open if he were to live and see the beauty that we enjoy quite frequently in the American West. The big skies testify that God is no chimera. (more…)

This post “Conversion Into” is written by the bishop’s wife (laughing) in Ammon, Idaho.  For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Kristie Wood. (more…)