NEWS HEADLINES
06 Come to the Water Cornerstone conference by Cheryl Degraaf
According to Sarah Ivill, “The world wants us to believe our deepest contentment is found when we glorify ourselves.” Read the coverage of a women’s conference that overflowed with living water for this dry and thirsty land.
09 On Choosing the Good Portion conference by Hanna Korvemaker
“We will not be able to serve well and with the proper focus if we are not more enthralled with Jesus than we are with ourselves.” That’s just a sip of the counter-cultural message at a popular women’s conference in Hamilton.
10 Surveying the Significance of the Reformation by Michael Zwiep
The seventh annual conference of the Canadian Reformed Seminary featured a full slate of intriguing speakers including Dr. Van Raalte who “outlined 12 means of grace in the restoration of the church.” Do we still treasure them 500 years later?
14 A Gospel work grows in Naples, Italy by Gerry Wisz
A first-hand report of a tiny church plant blossoming in heart of Naples, the city of the Mafia, gangs, political corruption and the ever-imposing Roman Catholic Church.
17 An MP with both rhyme and reason by Michael Zwiep
A young, articulate member of Parliament, Arnold Viersen is the face of a political movement engaging confessional reformed churches in the political process. Here’s Michael Sweep’s exclusive interview to see what he’s up to.
FEATURE: PROFILE IN HISTORY
24 A Real McCoy: His efforts to minister to Indians by Russ Pulliam
The unjust treatment of native Americans is a pretty familiar story. Call it the majority report. For the minority report, here gain another perspective.
COLUMNS
19 A Letter from Heaven by Norm Bomer
Norm was all set to crank out his next CR column when he got side-tracked, by a sunset of the heavenly kind.
20 Institutions Matter by Brian Lee
Writing from Washington DC, a pastor has learned something of the importance of a church being not only a living organism, but also a dynamic institution including a name and place in the heart of our cities.
22 The Sheep and the Goats then and now by Marian Vantil
If you have a problem with the parable, and all those fine folks heading for hell, you may have a problem with an absolutely sovereign God who both judges the wicked and welcomes sinners.
32 The Open Source Movement by Ruth VanHooydonk
A technical series, more for giraffes than bunnies, traces in this installation a fascinating antagonistic synergy that gave rise to the internet software explosion enjoyed today worldwide that couldn’t even be imagined less than 20 years ago.
36 Rain by D. Allan Stares
When it come to the big or the small stuff in everyday life, Stares shows that to “sort of” believe in providence misses the whole point.
FAITH ENGAGED
26 Our Monastic Catechism by H. David Schuringa
Have you ever considered becoming a monk? Probably not as Calvinism and monasticism, like oil and water, don’t mix. But then, what’s with that Gem of Heidelberg in Lord’s Day 1?
BOOKS & IDEAS
28 The Benedict Option: Dreher’s dire forecast by John P. Elliot
Our news commentator reviews a disturbing and influential book rehearsing the modern evangelical movement which has created so much dissonance that believers may soon find themselves as cultural refugees heading for the hills.