The Banner

A dear person in your congregation is diagnosed with cancer. Another is going through a divorce.

Higher Education Before the Face of God

Consciously or unconsciously, we all live our lives coram deo—“before the

Last month I introduced this column by telling you that August would usher in major transitions in denominational leadership.

Also known as “the manse.” I lived in three of them—church-owned housing. What a joy! No taxes to pay. No repairs.

When a bride and groom say wedding vows and sign a marriage certificate, they make their love and commitment to each other official.

Write On!

An astute third-grader once asked me, “Do you ever wonder if life is real?

Twelve years ago my wife, Coby, and I found ourselves facing some of the most significant crossroads and challenges of our lives.

When we decided to send our three children to a Christian day school, we weren’t operating under the influence of “CRC auto-

Q. An article in the March 2005 Banner (p.

The president of the university where I worked as a campus minister once told me about a call he received from an irate parent:

Have you ever written a spiritual autobiography? You know, a story about your own faith journey.

Apology Corrected

I read with interest your “Apology Accepted” story in the July 2005 Banner.

Synod 2005 approved a proposal for the orderly exchange of ministers between the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in A

One summer night in the late 1950s, when church was a more serious, formal occasion and the "Reverends" wore black tie and tails when pr

This Banner is heavy on discipleship issues—how we can become more mature followers of Jesus and help others do the same

Body and soul stretching,
creating space,
groaning,
tearing.
Life from life,
breaking free.

Some weeks ago I made a pastoral call on an elderly believer, one firm in her faith though she suffers a great deal of physical pain.

A few months ago I was sitting around a seminar table with my students.

A Meditation for Lent

Viktor Klemperer was professor of literature at the University of Dresden during the years that led into World War II, and he had the job

"Gospel Glory" by Cornelius Plantinga Jr., August 2004, pp.