Reviewed by Peter Bush. John Moir is among the most influential historians of Christianity in Canada, having a special interest in The Presbyterian Church in Canada. He is the author of the denomination's official history, Enduring Witness which tells the stories of notable Presbyterian women and men. … Read more
Inclusive Language and Modern Worship
By Ian McPhee. If the issue was simply a matter of changing hymns to avoid an appearance of exclusive male reference at the human level only, there could be little objection. But language about God cannot be changed without severing ties to Christian tradition. … Read more
Charismatic Renewal in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
By Zeb Bradford Long. Over the last twenty years, there have been four streams of renewal and movements of the Holy Spirit bringing renewal to the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, each with itsr distinctive characteristics but which are deeply interrelated. … Read more
How to Become and Be a Christian
By J.H. (Hans) Kouwenberg. It is important for people in a Christian church to know how to become and be Christians, because far too many people are too fuzzy about it. Too many people play at being Christians. … Read more
The Seminary as a Place of Spiritual Foundation
By Eugene H. Peterson. The French have a wonderful phrase, deformation professionale, work-related malady. Those of us who think and talk and read and write God are in danger of having the very words we use about God separate us from God, the most damning deformation of all. … Read more
From Vision to Reality: Leadership is the Key
By Neal Mathers – We don’t often talk about it but he truth is that leadership has often been identified as the key factor in developing a healthy growing church. If the minister, elders and congregational leaders do not take the lead in developing goals and strategies for church growth then the congregation will reflect this non-growth mentality. … Read more
Annual Meeting Report & Letters
Donald MacLeod describes the wide variety of seminars and talks that occurred at the Annual Meeting, with the theme, “The Holy Spirit and Ourselves”. A number of letters follow in reaction to the article on John Wimber in the previous issue … Read more
Image & Chaos: The church and homosexuality
By William Duffy. Homosexuality is not in accordance with God’s creation of his purpose for our lives or our good. There is no question that in God’s eyes it is an abomination – a perversion of what he created which was, and is, very good. … Read more
Theology of the Reformers, by Timothy George
Reviewed by Christopher A. Hall. If one needed to select a single book to begin a study of the Reformation, or if one wanted a thorough but readable review of key figures and themes, Theology of the Reformers is the place to look. … Read more
Evangelism For Our Generation, by Jim Petersen
Reviewed by Jim Walton. Believers must make it their priority to make the spiritual climate of the society in which they live to work in favour of the growth of the gospel rather than allowing it to isolate themselves from the people they are attempting to reach. … Read more
Summons to Faith and Renewal: Christian Renewal in a Post-Christian World, eds. Peter Williamson and Kevin Perrotta
Reviewed by David Ley. The roots of religious secularization are found in changing standards of sexual morality, an erosion of the doctrine of Christ, and an increasingly uninformed understanding of God, but the problem is not simply unbelief, but also the dilution of standards of behaviour among Christians themselves. … Read more
Reflections After The Tree Came Down
By Ian McPhee. Amid much confusing advice from friends regarding the source of his illness, Ian McPhee finds that the most helpful explanation is that illness is one of God's gracious gifts to us. Our privilege is to unwrap it and discover how good and perfect it is. … Read more
Learning to Worship as a Way of Life, by Graham Kendrick
Reviewed by Nancy Bettridge. Renewal in worship is a gradual process, and the book gives several suggestions for change that an individual worshipper can make, and focusses on corporate changes in worship. … Read more
We Meet In the Garden
By Kathleen Larmour. At 33,1 am broken
So wearied by my flesh
That imagined vitality
Cannot raise its head
From within a cluttered mind. … Read more
1992 Annual Meeting
On March 6 and 7, many Presbyterians concerned about renewal, met at Willowdale Church in Toronto for the Annual Meeting. Photos by Jack Harewood … Read more
Unfinished Business Is His Business: Helping Adults Resolve Their Painful Pasts
By Bob Moeller. The adult children of dysfunctional homes are known as ACOAs – an acronym for adult children of alcoholics, though the term is applied to a wide variety of dysfunctional home settings. … Read more
“I Will Open My Mouth in Parables…”: Two Ministers
By Murray Pura. In comparison to the qualities of love for God and people, a person's precise theology, sermons, and prayers may seem to us like a horrible racket before God. But we may be surprised at God's response to attitudes that may turn us off completely. … Read more