What to Preach on Good Friday
Preachers are afraid they might upset some members of their congregations. They are afraid to say what they really believe about Jesus’ crucifixion.
Magazine
Bending the Wild
Addictions. So many addictions. The greatest of which is social norm: To be accepted.
Loving the Earth
People of faith are at the forefront in the worldwide struggle to address climate change. But there’s more we can do.
A Most Fitting Epitaph
Whatever else it is, retirement is a kind of watershed. Watersheds are places that evoke reflection. And as I reflect over the past 32 years in ministry, I certainly remember the apparent successes. But perhaps more than anything else, what strikes me most are the failures.
Coming Together to Pray
The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and the international church community seeks to honour that call each year by joining hearts and minds.
Asking Over the Back Fence
The question I am asked most frequently when I preach is some version of “What can we do to bring new people into our church?” I usually tell them a story…
Spiritual Care Visitation
As people with physical ailments lose connections with familiar activities, places and people, feelings of isolation coupled with debilitating illness may affect their wellbeing, self esteem and even their judgement. With the loss of customary sources of happiness, life becomes a search for meaning.
Overcoming Fear and Loathing
It would be convenient to blame a hard winter for the state of the national psyche, but that would avoid addressing the real roots of fear and anxiety.
A Great Joy
How does a structural engineering student link his passion for concrete to a passion for spreading the gospel? Three words: Engineering Ministries International. EMI is […]
The Art of Christ’s Passion
Ubiquitous in Roman Catholic churches, the Stations of the Cross are a visual representation of Christ’s Passion, with a dozen or so paintings of biblical passages arranged as a meditative pilgrimage.
Thinking Past Empire
This is a book about humility. That’s genuine humility, which preachers in our part of the world often lack. We talk about humility and then demonstrate that we’re not prepared to attend to voices other than our own, or to the Bible as others may read it.
The Good with the Bad
We were first appointed to Malawi in 1980. Our “first born,” as Malawians would say, was just a year old.
A Lego Easter
Kitsch BW Animations is a goofy little YouTube channel. They make old school, stop – motion animations. Mostly they use Lego and action figures and […]
Learning to Trust God
Henry Wildeboer, a pastor with the Christian Reformed Church, writes out of the crucible of 50 years of ministry experience and describes the many challenges and opportunities he faced in leading congregations to fulfil the great commission.
Paving the Way
About four years ago, the church to which I now belong introduced a contemporary service; and I thank God that they did.
He is Risen!
It is an ancient liturgy translated into countless tongues and spoken by billions since the historical event of the resurrection. It is the core of the Church’s Easter worship.
You Have Been Saved
“A minister without theology is like a doctor without medicine; all he can do is kill you.” This was a favourite saying of my principal at Emmanuel College, Earl Lautenschlager.
Kenora Emergency Shelter May Have to Close
The Presbyterian mission that provides the only emergency shelter in Kenora, Ont., announced it might have to close down the shelter portion of its operations as of June 1 “due to severe financial restraints.”
New Head of Life and Mission Agency Announced
The Life and Mission Agency Committee announced in March that Rev. Ian McDonald has been named the new general secretary of the Life and Mission […]
Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance to Become Part of World Council of Churches
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance will be reconstituted as a part of the World Council of Churches, the organizations announced in March. As an ecumenical initiative of the […]