Reviewed by David Stewart. These 15 essays on “The Renewal of Theological Education,” “The Renewal of Church Life,” and “The Renewal of Presbyterianism” were collected as a tribute to Dr. Ian Rennie on the occasion of his 65th birthday, when he retired from his duties as Dean of Ontario Theological Seminary. … Read more
Great Expectations: Getting Small Groups Going
By Dan Williams. When starting a new group, each member needs to be clear about the initial expectations and understandings that they and everyone else have brought into the room. … Read more
A Unique Opportunity
Sylvia Cleland outlines her progress to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament, and reflects on her education at both Regent College and Vancouver School of Theology. … Read more
Wait Training: Building the Body of Christ
By Chris Yue. Small groups have always been used powerfully by God. He knows the power of community. And if we ourselves have enough community in our lives, there are many who need to be blessed by us. We need each other. … Read more
New Life in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
By Ted Ellis — “Don’t call it ‘renewal’, call it ‘new life’. It is the most wide-spread movement in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT).” Pastor Tan Sin-chhiong from the East Coast is not given to over-statement, but this is how he describes what is now known as “The New Life movement” in the PCT. He sees the PCT as old and creaky in places “but God is working to wake us up.” … Read more
Renewing the Church: A Place to Begin
Jack Mills reports on Eugene Peterson’s talk at a recent Renewal Day. If God’s Church can become God-centered instead of man-centered, the opportunities in his ever-changing world will be obvious. … 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
Reaching For the Invisible God, by Philip Yancey
Reviewed by Jackson Clelland. Yancey wrote this book out of a thirst for God and a desire to identify how a relationship with God truly works, rather than how it is supposed to work. He is transparently honest that his own relationship with God has more often than not been a struggle. … Read more
Greater Toronto and Surrounding Communities Impacted by Graham Ministry
Jack Charleson describes the process of preparation for and the results of Mission Ontario with Billy Graham. … 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
Reflections on the Gospels: Daily Devotions for Radical Christian Living, by John Michael Talbot
Reviewed by Calvin Brown. This book is a devotional guide that is suitable for those who truly wish to embrace a radical Christian commitment — to those willing to be challenged and to wrestle with an “activist” piety. … Read more
“Unless the Lord Builds the House …”
By J. H. (Hans) Kouwenberg. We all need to work at our marriages and family lives every day of our lives. Thank God that He is there to sustain and help us. If He builds and we build, what a building it will be! … Read more
Dutch Calvinism in Modem America: A History of a Conservative Subculture, by James D. Bratt
Reviewed by J.H. (Hans) Kouwenberg. With its well-documented research (18 pages of selected bibliography) and 80 pages (!) of helpful notes, this book is literally a “Who’s Who” of Dutch Calvinism in America. … Read more
Some Beginning Thoughts About the Alpha Course
By Jonathan Dent. Alpha provides a place to bring non-believing friends and non-committed churchgoers, where a foundation of Christian theology and apologetics can be reinforced or laid down for the first time, and people can ask basic spiritual questions. … Read more
Ministering to Those with Life-Threatening Diseases
By Kenneth Oakes. Do we have the answers to all this suffering? – No! But we know we have One who is forever with us, through our suffering; the Lord. Surely that is “good news” for us to share with those who are suffering with a terminal illness! … Read more
The Prayer Life of C.S. Lewis
By James M. Houston. To try to enter into the understanding of Lewis’ prayer-life is an attempt to penetrate his very mind and spirit, in the most intimate way. … Read more