Vol 86 Issue 04

Rev. Miersma is pastor of the Loveland Protestant Reformed Church in Loveland, Colorado. *This meditation is a transcript of the speech given by Rev. Miersma at the Seniors’ Retreat in Estes Park, CO on October 5, 2009. And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isaiah 46:4 Winter! Once more a natural, physical, and earthly picture pointing to the spiritual aspect of our life. The Lord Jesus Christ often taught this way, for He stated...

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Mission Activities Pittsburgh, PA is a city built on steep hills, and when too much rain falls in a short period of time it can cause extensive property damage due partly to erosion. Such was the case this summer when our Pittsburgh Mission church and parsonage suffered major water damage, which required correction and reconstruction on two concrete and stone-block retaining walls that ran along the driveway of the house next to the church building. The week of September 14 the DMC sent a number of landscapers...

Classis West met in special session on October 21, 2009, to examine Mr. Cory Griess, who had accepted the call to Calvary PRC of Hull, IA. Calvary PRC hosted this meeting of Classis, which was held in the facilities of the Hull PRC. Rev. R. Kleyn presided over this meeting. Already on Tuesday night the delegates and synodical deputies gathered in the sanctuary of Hull PRC to worship our God, and to hear Mr. Griess preach his specimen sermon on Isaiah 55:1-2, under the theme “God’s Marketplace for the Soul.” Having heard this sermon, Classis judged that Mr. Griess demonstrated...

At its meeting in early June, Synod 2009 approved a long-range plan to remodel the facilities of the Theological School. Synod also approved Phase I of this project to be completed during the summers of 2009 and 2010 at a cost of $248,000 to be paid for exclusively with existing and new donations. The Building Committee is pleased to report that construction for 2009 is now completed and was finished on budget and on time for classes to begin. We also thank the many Protestant Reformed contractors and tradesmen who made this possible. Work this summer included a new front...

Mrs. Miersma is the wige of Rev. Thomas Miersma, pastor of Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. Hemlines rise and fall, waistlines ascend and descend, necklines descend and then plunge. How do royal children, and perhaps especially royal daughters, run through this fashion gauntlet? Parents must teach the royal children whom God has entrusted to their care to navigate this danger-fraught course. As royal children we wear distinctive garments, the finest in the kingdom. Does the way we dress reflect our spiritual garments as children of the great King? When we examine the clothing of the royal children, we begin...

Rev. Lanning is pastor of Faith Protestant Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan. Previous article in this series: September 1, 2009, p. 471. When we last left Henry Danhof, he was making a promise to the delegates of the Christian Reformed Synod of 1924. His promise was occasioned by the synod’s adoption of the theory of common grace as binding doctrine in the CRC. Almost before the ink of that decision in the synodical minute book was dry, Danhof submitted a document of his own. As we rejoin him now and peek over his shoulder at this letter he submitted, we...

Mr. DeVries is a teacher in Covenant Christian High School and a member in Hope Protestant Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. In these ungodly times when many of us are facing the difficult task of rearing covenant children and young people, there arise in our minds many questions. One question many ask is, “Must we teach our children what to think…or how to think?” Is it right and proper to teach them to think like we do? Or would that be we infringing on their rights and freedoms? Are we restricting their pursuit of happiness by imposing our way of...

Rev. Langerak is pastor of South Holland Protestant Reformed Church in South Holland, Illionois. The Oppositions of Science Falsely So-Called In an astoundingly candid article in the Grand Rapids Press entitled “150th birthday of ‘On the Origin of Species’ prompts area colleges to assess Darwin’s impact,” the author of the article exposes the dominance of Darwinian evolution on Christian college campuses. The title is a reference to the book On the Origin of Species by the unbeliever Charles Darwin, in which he rejects the history of creation as it is given in the Scriptures and instead teaches what has become...

Rev. Brummel is a home missionary of the Protestant Reformed Churches, stationed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The sixteenth century saw a Roman Catholic focus on overseas missions that had no parallel. The Catholic Church aggressively promoted its false doctrine throughout the known world, making use of the sword as its chief evangelism tool. Opportunities that were available to the Roman Catholics in terms of traveling with and living under the protection of explorers and commercial companies were not available to their Protestant counterparts. As a result, the Reformers of the sixteenth century are often accused of failing to be...

Rev. Connors is pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia. Previous article in this series: November 1, 2009, p. 68. In the first part of this presentation at the Calvin Conference sponsored by the Protestant Reformed Seminary (cf. November 1, 2009 SB, p. 68), Rev. Connors outlined Calvin’s doctrine of Predestination. Now he turns to: Calvin’s Challenge to the Church 1. Calvin challenges us to be committed to predestination as a truth we receive from God through His word. Calvin did not just teach a doctrinal system—he experienced the reforming power of sola scriptura. Consequently, he models what happens...