Vol 87 Issue 19

Young People’s Activities The first ever Western Young People’s Retreat was held June 29-July 2 at a camp in Post Falls, Idaho under the sponsorship of the Young People’s Society of the Lynden, WA PRC and the Covenant of Grace PRC in Spokane, WA. Young people from Lynden and Spokane, along with others from First PRC in Edmonton, AB, Canada; Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB, Canada; Hope PRC in Redlands, CA; and the Loveland, CO PRC met together for this retreat. The theme was, “Watching for Christ’s Coming,” with speeches by Rev. John Marcus and Rev. Ron Hanko. Rev. Rodney...

The family is a beautiful creation of God. The family is the foundational institution of all human society. Out of the family organically arose the clan, the tribe, and finally the nations of the earth. When man fell into sin he corrupted himself and his race. He made it really impossible to live in harmony with his fellow man. This is revealed especially in his corruption of marriage and the family. The family, because of the fall, becomes the stage of strife and bitterness. Husbands rule in tyranny over their wives and abuse them to satisfy their own lust and...

So many warnings you have heard about peer pressure. “Don’t follow the crowd!” “If everyone else is doing it, that is no reason for you to do it.” Peer pressure you hear about in connection with drinking, smoking, and almost everything else that will get you into trouble. Peer pressure is the enemy. You must not cave into its demands. What is peer pressure? Peer pressure is influence that you feel because of a group with whom you identify yourself. You tend to adopt their ways of thinking, speaking, and acting. That tendency is so strong, not only because those...

Commencement exercises of the Protestant Reformed Semi¬nary were held on June 16, 2011 at Grandville Protestant Reformed Church. An abbreviated version of Prof. Dykstra’s address on that occasion was begun in the July issue and is concluded here. The Reformed minister is a soldier, called to war a good warfare (I Tim. 1:18). He fights for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for doctrine which is according to godliness. Hence he battles against the lie and all sin. At the same time, the minister is a pastor, a shepherd. For God’s people are sheep. “We are his people, and the sheep...

A Gradual Demise of Marriage A recent Associated Press article by Nigel Duara reflects on data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on May 26, 2011 that shows that married couples find themselves in a new position: They’re no longer the majority. Duara writes, “It’s a trend that’s been creeping along for decades, but in the 2010 Census, married couples represent 48 percent of all households. That’s down from 52% in the last Census and, for the first time in U.S. history, puts households led by married couples as a plurality.” This ought not be a surprise to us, realizing...

Dear editor, Regarding Mark Hoeksema’s review in SB 87:14 of the book by David VanDrunen, Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms: A Study in the Development of Reformed Social Thought,, which I have recently read myself, I would like to make some comments. First, the brother writes that he views “the kingdom as a broader and more inclusive concept than that of the church, in keeping with VanDrunen’s historical analysis.” Though I am not sure what the brother means by this idea, VanDrunen is at pains throughout the entire book to demonstrate that, beginning with Augustine and all the way through...

Rob Bell is the pastor of a “mega-church” (Mars Hill) meeting in a former shopping mall in Grandville, MI. On a given Sunday, Rob Bell draws almost as many people to his services as will attend all the thirty-one churches of the Protestant Reformed Churches on the same Lord’s Day. He is a popular preacher and speaker who has written best-selling books. He produces powerful, well-orchestrated videos that have been viewed by millions. He is hailed as a creative and innovative thinker. His latest book (Love Wins)¹ has brought him remarkable notoriety, leading to interviews on several television shows and...

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Solomon 2:10-13 Of all the books of Scripture, none is so expressive of communion and...