“And by this time either they had grown much smaller or the picture had grown bigger. Eustace jumped to pull it off the wall and found himself standing on the frame; in front of him was not glass but real sea, and wind and waves rushing up to the frame as they might to a…
I was raised in the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in Canada. Its rich Reformed tradition fed my curiosity, encouraged debate and dialogue and allowed room for questions and doubt. I found it liberating, healing, inclusive and inviting, full of hope for those seeking meaning and purpose. But it no longer feels that way to me….
I generally dislike allegory. I’m in good company. J.R.R. Tolkien once said, “I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence.” I never could connect with Pilgrim’s Progress. Nevertheless, I have no problem with the allegorical elements of Godhanger by…
I’m often overwhelmed. Too much on the go, too much to do, and too much to keep track of. If it’s not stemming from work-related ambitions and responsibilities, it’s stemming from emotions I fear or am uncertain how to navigate. Recently, I was feeling particularly overwhelmed. I was nearing the end of a degree, working…
Can we be strong and weak? Many would reject this as unrealistic, but it’s a paradox that provides hope for the leadership complexities facing the church today and the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) specifically. In his book, Strong and Weak, Andy Crouch explores this paradox and provides a helpful framework for flourishing leadership. A framework…
If I’m honest, I’d rather look away from Synod this year. But I haven’t always felt that way. In years past, I’ve been a keen watcher of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC)’s annual denominational meetings that are usually held at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There’s one evening of Synod watching that I remember…
Pope Leo XIV released his first papal encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on May 25, a roughly 42,000-word document outlining a Catholic response to recent developments in AI. I had been eagerly anticipating this encyclical and spent much of the release day poring over the text. While there have been other Christian efforts to release statements about…
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. (Matt. 10:29 NIV) Recently, I was reading an article about the comprehensive nature of God’s care for creation. Under the heading of God’s sovereignty, the article referenced the quote from…
The cultural and language divide in Canada has resulted in two entirely different definitions of state neutrality. In April, Quebec passed Bill 9, legislation that expands on existing restrictions on religious symbols, prayer rooms and religion-specific foods in government-subsidized workplaces like daycares and post-secondary institutions. The stated goal of Bill 9 is to ensure state…
It’s easy to support bans on social media use for children under 16. It is widely known that TikTok, Instagram and other apps are addictive, and that overuse contributes to mental health issues. Protecting children sounds good and rallies political support. However, when one takes time to ask questions, it is less clear that the…
“My child has just come out as transgender. What do I do?” These days, it seems that no matter how you respond, someone will judge you harshly. These questions take on special urgency as the average age of coming out as trans is steadily dropping, and there are increasingly effective treatment options for transforming bodies….
One of the most famous psalms in the Bible is Psalm 23, which begins: “The Lord is my shepherd.” It was written by King David who knew something about shepherds because when he was a boy, he had to look after his father’s sheep. Now you may think that being a shepherd is a pretty…
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