By Patricia Allan. The issue of homosexuality demands a response of godly compassion from the Body of Christ. How serious it is to misrepresent God. We need to take a broad biblical response. The prohibitions are there, but we need a response that sees the whole person. … Read more
Advent: Giving, Fasting, Praying while you wait . . .
By Martha G. Zimmerman. Regularly, by our actions, we tell our children what we think is important. We are living proof of what our hearts desire. There is no better example of this than in our celebrations. Our actions speak so loudly we can easily make it difficult for our children to hear what we are saying. What do you really believe about Christmas? Based on what you believe are you willing … Read more
Prayer, by Hans Urs Von Balthasar
Reviewed by J.H. (Hans) Kouwenberg. This may be a theological book but it is theology as poetry, theology as a way of understanding the language of the Scriptures as much as the doctrine of the Scriptures. … Read more
The Church and Politics
By J. Barry Forsyth. Do you think the Church should take a stand on political issues? In recent years, the World Council of Churches has been embroiled in controversy over the fact that it supported (directly or by implication) Robert Mugabe’s guerrillas of Zimbabwe against the white “racist” government of Ian Smith. Were they right or were they wrong to do that? … Read more
Worship: A Breath of Fresh Air
By Calvin Brown. I have often been asked how to introduce new worship styles into a very conservative or tradition-bound congregation that needs a breath of freshness. The answer, of course, is “prayerfully and very carefully!” There are definitely ways in which this can be done effectively … Read more
The Culture of Disbelief, by Stephen L. Carter
Reviewed by David Jennings. Until Christians start speaking in the public square, they cannot criticize anyone for not listening. … Read more
Thank God for the World
By Bruce Robertson. The sheet music for this children’s song appears in the original PDF
A Study in Contrasts
By Michael Green, pictured on the cover. All Christians are called to serve Christ, all are commissioned for ministry. … Read more
Learn to Discern, by R.G. De Moss, Jr.
Reviewed by Jim Walton. De Moss’s goal is to teach parents how they may help their children to develop a critical, Christian mind that is able to sift through the mixed messages given by the seductive and influential power of the television, movie, advertising, and music industries. … Read more
I Have a Conviction
By Bob Little. My vision is that lay people and pastors will rise up, leave the hostage situation of our comfortable ecclesiastical enclaves and spread out across our communities, in a new freedom, to show the beauty and favour of our saving Lord. … Read more
Worship Workshop – Can These Dry Bones Live?
Calvin Brown presents this new song by the Rev. Roland Wells Jr. of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. … Read more
A Churchful of Ministers
By Michael Green. In mainline churches, there is a clear distinction between clergy or ministers and laymen. The clergy are the professionals, and the laymen the amateurs. All this would have sounded very strange to New Testament ears. They knew nothing of any such distinction! … Read more
The Resistance to Church Union in Canada, by N. Keith Clifford
Reviewed by Hans Kouwenberg. This book provides an excellent overview of the events leading up to and following that hopeful or fateful (depending upon your point of view) marriage or disruption of churches in Canada, outlining the fascinating story in well-documented detail, rich with vignettes. … Read more
Listening To Sermons As An Act of Worship
By Mark Graves. In his informal style, Mark writes on the sermon, considering it from the perspective of the pew. It is worth meditating on this “means of grace” that each Presbyterian, in their communicant vows, promises to diligently use. … Read more