NEWS HEADLINES 06 URC Classis Western Canada: two new pastors by Glenda Mathes CR report on how Rev. John van Eyk, from the Associate Presbyterian Church in Scotland, and Rev. Thomas Albaugh of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, sustained their examinations to serve at Trinity Reformed Church in Lethbridge, AB.
08 URC & Can Ref. hold concurrent classes by Glenda Mathes Get news on what happened at the first concurrent meetings of Classis Central US (URCNA) and Classis Manitoba (CanRC) in Sioux Falls which anticipates the first concurrent meetings of the URCNA Synod and General Assembly of the OPC in 2018.
10 Greenville celebrates Gospel freedom by Glenda Mathes A reformation conference at Greenville Seminary featuring Dr. Joseph Pipa, Dr. Joel Beeke and others included Luther expert, Dr. Robert Kalb from Concordia Seminary who defended the Reformer’s interpretation of the parables.
11 From Kampen to Utrecht by John P. Elliot While the Dutch government orchestrated the merger of three theological universities a few years ago, John P. Elliot reports why three conservative denominations are now considering a merger of their own ministerial training into one, in Utrecht.
12 Lacombe URC dedicates new facilities by John Van Dyk Redeemer Reformed Church, which just started in 2011 recently dedicated their new church building. Rev. Barry Beukema posits reasons the church may now flourish even more.
FEATURE 24 Unsettling Science: What’s not taught and why by Michael Wagner An alarming report on a book by a UCLA psychiatrist who wonders why a society that blesses sexual relationships between “consenting adults” fails to inform college students that women who “hook-up “are prone to contracting distressful-emotional attachments, sexually-transmitted diseases and infertility.
COLUMNS 18 What to do on Sunday? by Doug Barnes While Sabbath observance is all but lost in North America, a check-list of four simple questions is offered to Christian families for determining the best way to keep the Lord’s Day holy.
20 Why Cities Matter by Brian Lee Brian Lee feels that reformed churches of the Dutch and Scottish traditions have a bias against doing church in big cities. See if you agree with the reasons he suggests.
22 Amazing Grace by Marian Van Til One might get depressed reviewing the Old Testament stories. Not only because God’s people were so unfaithful, but also because they look a lot like us, wretches that we are. But then, Van Til’s OT reading discovers hope.
29 Breaking Siege Beyond the Pecos by Norm Bomer Although the Cultural Mandate is to fill the earth and subdue it, see how agencies like Greenpeace, the Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club, armed by government and press, are deliberately reversing divine progress in Texas.
32 Net Neutrality by Ruth Vanhooydonk Is it liberal or conservative to favor “net neutrality?” Uh, what does it even mean, exactly? VanHooydonk spells it out and how it affects internet usage, including your emails and Facebook page.
REFORMATION 500 16 Tribute to the Unknown Reformer by H. David Schuringa A hundred years before Luther penned his 95 Theses, a theologian was born who became a light shining in the Dark Ages. In fact, the author believes rehearsing Reformation history without him would be like telling the Gospel story without Christmas.
SOCIAL/POLITICAL 27 A Foster Family Confronts the Easter Bunny by Hermina Dykxhoorn Rev. Derk Baars and his wife, Frances, lost their two foster children. A social worker felt that since the young couple wouldn’t teach the three and four-year-olds about Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, she could assume they also didn’t believe in same-sex marriage or cohabitation.
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