Vol 87 Issue 10

Mission Activities The delegation of Gerald Brummel, representing our churches’ Foreign Mission Committee, and Alan De Boer, representing the calling church, the Doon, IA PRC, arrived in the Philippines in mid-January for their annual visit with missionary pastors Rev. D. Kleyn and Rev. R. Smit and their families. This visit is part of the ongoing work of our churches in the oversight of the missionaries and the mission field. In the time spent there the men were busy conducting family visitation with the missionary families, observing and discussing the work of the missionaries, and meeting the saints in this field....

January 12, 2011 Trinity Protestant Reformed Church Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at the Trinity PRC, Hudsonville, MI. All churches were represented by two delegates. Rev. A. denHartog served as the chair of this session. The business of classis was routine for a January session. Classis spent most of its time voting. The following were chosen as delegates to Synod 2011: Ministers: Primi: G. Eriks, C. Haak, K. Koole, J. Slopsema, R. VanOverloop; Secundi: A. denHartog, M. DeVries, W. Langerak, A. Lanning, A. Spriensma. Elders: Primi: Tom DeVries (Hope), Gary Kaptein, Dave Ondersma, Ted Pipe, John VanBaren...

Written in Stone: The Ten Commandments and Today’s Moral Crisis, by Philip Graham Ryken. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 2010. 240 pages. $14.99. Softcover. ISBN 9781596382060. Reviewed by Douglas J. Kuiper. This book is highly recommended. Every Christian family should have at least one book that explains the ten commandments and helps us apply them to our daily life. This book does that. Those desiring to study the ten commandments in Bible study would also do well to use this book. Its questions at the end of each chapter are an aid, not just in studying the book, but...

Mrs. Griess is a member of Calvary Protestant Reformed Church in Hull, Iowa. Twilight series, by Stephenie Meyer. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 0-316-16017-2. Reviewed by Lael Griess. No doubt many readers have seen or heard of the fantastically popular Twilight series. These recent best-sellers, whose basic story line is a love affair between a teenage girl and her vampire boyfriend, have inspired a cultural vampire mania complete with movies, copycat books, television series, and even a new shade of lipstick suggestively called “just-bitten.” Teachers in our Christian schools have reported that these books are popular among our young people as well, and...

Previous article in this series: January 15, 2011, p. 185. Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 (please read) In a world of constant change under the judgment of God upon sin, all things come to vanity. This is the reality of a fallen world. Nothing satisfies so that it truly fills the heart, because the things of this life are not an end in themselves. Only that which God does in Christ can truly satisfy. To understand this takes spiritual knowledge and discernment. It is in this context that the preacher, which is Solomon, stands forth as an instructor in wisdom. God set him...

Previous article in this series: January 1, 2011, p. 152. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 9  Question 26. What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”? Answer. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence) is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt but He will provide me...

What Would Jesus Do?” “What Would Jesus Drive?” “What Would Jesus Drink?” Although becoming less popular today, such slogans have frequently been buzzwords in Christian circles. In the 1990s the big question was, “What Would Jesus Do?” (WWJD). In facing decisions, struggles, temptations, or any other circumstance in life, one could determine what to do simply by answering this question. You simply need to follow the example of Jesus’ life. In more recent years a new WWJD arose, “What Would Jesus Drive?” It originates from Christian environmentalist groups who oppose owning and driving SUV’s. Their aim is to produce guilt...

* This editorial concludes the (revised) 2010 graduation message of the Protestant Reformed Seminary, more a sermon than a speech. It appears only now in February because other editorials took precedence this fall and winter. May the message, heard by a goodly number last June, also be of use to the churches and the SB community at large. In this new year, please commit us at the seminary to God in prayer. Good Shepherds God’s Word here, in Ezekiel 34, is not intended so much to warn evil shepherds as it is to comfort the flock whose welfare depends on their...

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.  And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.  Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come,...