To Condemn Surfing? Define Your Christianity. August 05, 2016 "Protestant missionaries... had forced surfing deep into the shadows... To Calvinists, surfing was a sinful exercise, leading only to unbridled licentiousness and godless impiety. Go surfing they pronounced from their pulpits, and
The Glory of God Revealed in the Church August 01, 2016 Last week I left the beauty and glory of Southern California. I left behind a peaceful ocean. I left behind the mountain ranges that speak of his glory. I left behind palm trees
A Complete Christ for Your Complete Needs June 03, 2016 The Christian life is full of needs. We are a needy people. Our needs go beyond the duty of being justified in the presence of a holy God. For there is no other
Behold Your Mother May 06, 2016 _ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from
Of Burner Phones and Busy Lives: Making the Best Use of Time April 01, 2016 A couple of weeks ago I walked into a cell phone store and said, "I would like to trade in my iPhone 6 for a d_umb phone_." Puzzled, the clerk
The Value and Labor of Women in the Church March 04, 2016 Hannah gave thanks to God for his favor and provision. She prayed, “He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with
For Beauty and Glory February 05, 2016 Why do I love the way that Vermeer painted yellow? Can I describe the joy produced by concentric circles on an Art Deco water pitcher? What attracts people to spend thousands of dollars
A Plea for Poets, Plumbers, Philosophers, and Physicians January 08, 2016 Over a lunch of Lebanese shish and tabbouleh, I had a conversation with a young man training at a well-known and respected university to be a medical doctor. During that discussion he mentioned
Psalm 77 to Auld Lang Syne December 31, 2015 Many people sing Auld Lang Syne on New Year's Eve. For some years I have been singing a portion of Psalm 77 as a way to bring in the new year.
Of Scotch Whisky and Christmas Trees December 04, 2015 Scotch whisky and Christmas trees. Few topics can separate brethren as quickly as alcohol and Christmas. This is especially true in the Reformed and Presbyterian community. This time of year, those with the
Look at the Fish! November 06, 2015 We live in a hurried society. We live in a society that tells the microwave to hurry up. We live in a time when we can get anything we want as soon as
The Timid Sheep September 04, 2015 It does not take much reading in the newspaper or media sites to realize that our culture is rapidly changing. I am not saying that our culture is going from Christian to secular
A Disciple of Mary? July 03, 2015 I have often said that July is the best time to work through Jesus's birth narratives. July is far enough away from December 25 that the emotional trappings of the day
Vanity Fair: Just Passing Through June 04, 2015 Vanity Fair "broke the internet" with a story of shock and shame. As the church reflects on the way in which the world has responded with glee, we must be mindful
Ordinary Elders May 01, 2015 [https://gentlereformation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/FullSizeRender.jpg]When we think of the work of the elders of the church what are the primary duties that we consider? In the Book of
J.G. Vos's Temperate Views on Temperance April 03, 2015 It is without doubt that JG Vos changed the RPCNA. Many will tell you of their experiences in his classroom at Geneva College and how they came to love the Word of God
Look! Look! Look! March 06, 2015 [https://gentlereformation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/IMG_8032.jpg]I live in a diverse place. My neighborhood is made up of a number of Asian and Latino people groups, along with, like
Elon's (and Your) Historical Record: Date. Dash. Date. February 06, 2015 As the ancient church historian was writing the book of Judges, he must have asked himself, “What do I know about Elon?” (Judges 12:11-12) The other historians around him must have scratched
Apologetics for the Rest of Us January 02, 2015 Evidentialist or Presuppositional? If you said Presuppositional, do you mean of the Van Til variety or are you a Clarkian? If you said Evidentialist, do you prefer the ontological, teleological, cosmological, or some
A Cure for the Prayerless Heart December 17, 2014 Are you having trouble in your prayer life? Do you feel as though your heart is hardened soil as you pray? Sing the psalms! Wilhelmus a'Brakel gave this encouragement to his
Some Say I'm a Dreamer; But I'm Not the Only One December 08, 2014 Occasionally when reading the dead theologians, and let's face it, the dead guys are better reading, you get a glimpse of the humanity of the writer that makes you smile. Occasionally
Let Pulpit Freedom Ring! December 05, 2014 In the 1920s a group of young people in the RPCNA asked their ministers why they chose to pastor in their particular denomination. As I reviewed the answers of these long dead ministers,
Qualifying our Ever-So-Merciful Consciences November 18, 2014 The church is called to be a merciful people. Jesus has called us to extend mercy as we preach the gospel through the nations. Sometimes, it seems, at least here in the U.
The Kingdom of Donkeys and Pachyderms November 07, 2014 This week the United States saw a major shift in the political landscape of the nation. The Democratic blue has faded to Republican red as Republicans celebrate victories in the House, the Senate,
The "Go En" and the Land of the Rising Son October 03, 2014 What if there was a nation in the 10/40 Window that could be easily reached with the gospel? What if that nation had less than 1% of the population profess Christianity? What
