By Marian Archibald. Almost one in five children and youth in Ontario has a diagnosable mental health disorder. Church members who are uncomfortable with people who are different need to seek more compassion and understanding of those who suffer mental challenges. … Read more
A Fishy Story? Can we be Evangelical and Presbyterian and Study for the Ministry?
By Jackson Clelland. Theological students who are both evangelical and Presbyterian would like to take courses in evangelism, prayer, and missions, but they are not offered at our colleges. They have the option of attending a college other than the PCC approved schools. … Read more
On Being Family: A Social Theology of the Family, by Ray S. Anderson and Dennis B. Guernsey
Reviewed by Greg Dallimore. Anderson and Guernsey suggest little research has been done in seeing the family, not as individuals, but as an entity which interacts within itself. Individuals, therefore, interact with each other as a system. This book is not designed for the average Christian reader, but for professionals ministering to the family. … Read more
Letter to the Editor
By John Vissers. We need to embrace what Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Third Wave Christians are contributing to the life of the church, but spiritual renewal cannot be reduced to their vision alone, nor operate in isolation from the rest of the church. … Read more
Miracle at Calvin
By Howard & Wilma Cumming. “Well, God,” we prayed, “you called us here. If it was only to close down Calvin, your will be done. But if you really want Calvin to grow, you are going to have to do something about it. We seem to be at a dead end.” … Read more
Studies in the History of Worship in Scotland, by eds. D. Forrester and D. Murray
Reviewed by Glen Scorgie. The book includes eleven essays on the form and character of Christian worship in Scotland since the earliest times. It is a welcome supplement to the standard work in the field, namely History of Worship in the Church of Scotland (1955) by William D. Maxwell, who is partisan in his treatment … Read more
Youth Alpha as a Profession of Faith Class
By Jim Walton. Youth Alpha involves a little more work than its adult counterpart. You can't turn on a videotape and expect the young people to "tune in". One has to "create" the Youth Alpha talk and session from the outline given in the Leader's Manual. … Read more
Annual General Meeting 2003
The Annual General Meeting and March Renewal Day was hosted by Paris Presbyterian Church on March 8 with enthusiasm and evident joy that set the tone for the whole event. It was a wonderful day and many commented that it was the best Renewal Day they had been to in years. Photos by Jack Harewood and David Stewart. … Read more
1998 Annual Meeting
Photos by Jack Harewood. Professor James Torrance, pictured on the cover, taught us the riches of the Trinity. It was two good days of worship, fellowship and learning at Humber Heights Presbyterian Church, Toronto, March 6 – 7, 1998. … Read more
By the Renewing of Your Minds, by Ellen T. Charry
Reviewed by Stan Cox. Christian doctrine, such as the Trinity and the two natures of Jesus Christ, are meant to enable the flourishing of human excellence by promoting people's enjoyment of God. A tour of Christian theologians who taught in the tradition of classic orthodoxy bears this out. … Read more
Lifestyle Evangelism, by Joseph C. Aldrich
Reviewed by Terry Hibbert. Dr. Aldrich zeroes in on the reasons why evangelism is more often than not ineffective. He expresses a concern that frequently church members view the unsaved as “enemies rather than victims of the Enemy,” and how relational evangelism can bridge the credibility gap between the Christian and non-Christian communities. … Read more
Metaphysics: Constructing a World View, by William Hasker
Reviewed by Robert Larmer. It is impossible in a short book to cover comprehensively so vast and complex a subject as metaphysics, so Hasker wisely confines himself to four: (i) free will versus determinism, (ii) the mind-body problem, (iii) the nature of the world, i.e., realism versus idealism, and (iv) God’s relation to the world. … Read more
A Christian Manifesto, by Francis A. Schaeffer
Reviewed by Alan Hartley. The book is dedicated “to all those who have said: ‘Here I stand’, facing oppressive authoritarian civil and church power.” This manifesto is meant to create opposition to the breakdown of Christian values in American society. Restitution of the balance between order and freedom will require active involvement by Christians in society. … Read more
The Renewal Fellowship – A Look Ahead
By John A Vissers. As we enter the sixth year in the life of the Renewal Fellowship Within The Presbyterian Church In Canada, we do so with much thankfulness to God for the ways in which the ministries of the Fellowship have been used to advance the cause of renewal within our denomination. The past years have been times of exciting growth … Read more
Spirit Alive
By Carter Blaisdell. Spirit Alive works on the principle of sending teams to churches to testify, teach, and pray with members in order that the Body of Christ might be built up in faith and witness. … 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