https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Wed, 24 Apr 2024 03:32:37 +0000 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 15:43:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/liturgical-forms-committee-and-problem-public-profession-faith This year I am going to Synod as one of the Ministerial Delegates. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/liturgical-forms-committee-and-problem-public-profession-faith Fri, 03 Jun 2016 15:43:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/whats-trinity What's the Trinity like? I was thinking about this the other day, and though I know I risk heresy by even trying to liken the Trinity to something within human experience, this is what occurred to me: Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/whats-trinity Tue, 14 Jul 2015 16:29:54 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/grateful-whator-whom I love my wife. She’s awesome. But I don’t love here for what she has done. Don’t get me wrong, she’s done some wonderful things for me, but if I loved her only for what she’s done, where would our love be if she could no longer do those things? Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/grateful-whator-whom Thu, 16 Oct 2014 14:29:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/hiring-practice-spiritual-discernment I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately: in the church we talk about the someone is “called" to be a minister, or elder, or deacon. We talk about it in other capacities in the church, too. We even, because we’re good Reformed folks, talk about our “jobs” or careers being callings. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/hiring-practice-spiritual-discernment Tue, 07 Oct 2014 18:52:48 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/celebrating-disorganization Just a few years ago we had the joy of welcoming a new young man to our congregation. He was from a different country and from a different church background. He had grown up in (and learned to lead worship in) a charismatic, contemporary church. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/celebrating-disorganization Tue, 13 May 2014 13:46:22 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/rolling-aisles I recently did something new. I had the pleasure of being a guest preacher at River Park Church in Calgary, Alberta. That was new, but it wasn’t what I wanted to talk about--the new thing that I did (along with 4 hapless volunteers) was comedy improv. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/rolling-aisles Wed, 12 Mar 2014 19:57:04 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/mom-and-pop-vs-big-box-church Why do you shop where you shop? Why do you work out at the gym you use? Why do you hire a certain plumber? For most of us, these days, the questions I’ve just asked can be answered in a few different ways. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/mom-and-pop-vs-big-box-church Tue, 21 Jan 2014 11:39:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/advice-or-imperative-how-can-we-know I know some of you haven't taken Greek, and that it's been a while for some of the rest of us, but as I was preparing for a sermon series in the New Year regarding reconciliation, I got to thinking about Greek imperatives. Maybe some of you experts out there can help me (and perhaps others too). Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/advice-or-imperative-how-can-we-know Thu, 05 Dec 2013 11:55:45 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/exegete Okay, well maybe only really fun for nerdy pastor/theologian types, but maybe really important too: Have you “exegeted” your church? “Hunh? Don’t we exegete the Bible?!” you may say. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/exegete Tue, 01 Oct 2013 10:27:11 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/enders-theology This November, a movie that I’ve been longing for will be released: “Ender’s Game.” Ender’s Game, the book, written by Orson Scott Card, is a modern science fiction classic. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/enders-theology Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:48:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/open-and-shut-case The question has been asked often. Just today, as I was checking out the Network, I found a reference to the question dating back to the early church fathers. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/open-and-shut-case Thu, 16 May 2013 12:43:42 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/outsiders-our-history-exclusion Unfortunately, the church has created "outsiders" for more than 2000 years. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/outsiders-our-history-exclusion Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:00:48 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/no-outsiders-relating-those-who-dont-belong Like it or not, there are those who don't feel welcome or comfortable within the Church, or among Christians, in spite of their own preferences; they'd like to participate in church-life, and associate with Christ-followers, but they can't because of choices that we've made. They're excluded. Daniel Zylstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/no-outsiders-relating-those-who-dont-belong Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:00:00 +0000