https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:54:50 +0000 Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:31:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/jesus-knew Jesus once made a remarkable visit. We read about it in the Gospel of John, Chapter 5. There was a festival in Jerusalem. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/jesus-knew Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:31:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/freedom-expression We take it for granted too easily…but we live in a country that champions freedom of exchange of information. It underlies all other freedoms in society. The roads to dictatorships have mostly been paved by one or other faction holding the press captive. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/freedom-expression Fri, 22 Jan 2016 13:18:42 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/mental-health/persistent-low Do you feel vaguely unhappy almost all of the time? Are you burdened by a sense of gloom that you cannot explain or fully account for? But you feel the weight, there is no escaping it. You wake up at night and it is there. It may have been your guest for years. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/mental-health/persistent-low Mon, 11 Jan 2016 14:13:59 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/minister-uncommon-grace The year-change is special because of people. It is a season of taking note of people with whom we form communities. Some we know personally, others less so. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/minister-uncommon-grace Mon, 04 Jan 2016 15:33:23 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/seeing-goodness This is the part of the year that we are busy with many concerns. But it is also the season of reflection. Another year past. Days of opportunities that will not return. Perhaps some regrets. Perhaps some pain, sorrow even. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/seeing-goodness Tue, 29 Dec 2015 13:28:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/breadth-and-depth This is the Christmas season. We earthlings, even apart from our religiosity, seem to sense something special around us, a certain expectation, something we share, something good that will happen to us. We cannot even fully account for it. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/breadth-and-depth Tue, 22 Dec 2015 13:42:42 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/gabriels-message-mary Those standing in the tradition of the Reformation have always known due esteem for Mary the Mother of our Lord. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/gabriels-message-mary Thu, 10 Dec 2015 17:13:27 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/joseph-our-man Details of Joseph’s life are sparse. Luke 2 tells us that he was Mary’s husband and foster-father of Jesus. Following brief stays in Bethlehem and Egypt the little family settled in Nazareth where Joseph made a living as a carpenter. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/joseph-our-man Wed, 02 Dec 2015 13:41:33 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/thank-ful-ness-and-think-ful-ness Thankfulness: how important! So good that it has been honored with a season: we set aside a season of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving means doing. But it is also means being. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/thank-ful-ness-and-think-ful-ness Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:51:50 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/loves-broad-concerns Love...what an incredibly important component of life. In some ways it could be said that life could not go on without it. The Bible refers to love some 500 times. The ancient Greeks were aware of the many aspects of love. They coined three words for love. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/loves-broad-concerns Thu, 19 Nov 2015 15:02:15 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/practitioners-mercy In a city where we once lived, the telephone service provided an additional feature: customers could dial a number and then listen to a message of cheer, encouragement, or even sympathy—a different one each day. We found that intriguing and we would dial it now and then. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/practitioners-mercy Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:47:15 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/our-names One feature that we all share is the fact that we have a name. One of the first things little children remember is their name. They may be puzzled about many things as they grow up, but they will never think it strange that they have a name. We equate our name with our identity. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/our-names Mon, 02 Nov 2015 16:21:34 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/our-great-wall Here's what I heard a speaker tell his audience: "Imagine," he said, "that you were standing on the moon and you were looking at the earth…Under proper conditions you would see, just vaguely, one man-made object: the Great Wall of China. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/our-great-wall Wed, 21 Oct 2015 18:48:41 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/royal-service The literature around the Second World War is filled with interesting and poignant stories. I came across the following account of a little event that took place in Denmark: a confrontation between King Christian X and an officer of the Nazi occupational forces. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/royal-service Wed, 14 Oct 2015 14:07:01 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/hints-elders The fall season is upon us and some of our readers will serve as Elders. You will have thought about the task ahead, perhaps with some trepidation. Below is a list of some hints for Elders by way of well-meant advice. I hope that it helps! Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/hints-elders Wed, 07 Oct 2015 12:52:36 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/financial-shalom/caring-pastors/thoughtful-appreciation Our language contains some words that have a happy ring to them. Appreciation is one of them.  Appreciation…a rare word that envisions two parties: those who do something commendable and those who observe it with approval. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/financial-shalom/caring-pastors/thoughtful-appreciation Mon, 05 Oct 2015 19:22:38 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/ah-trouble-free-life I asked a social worker: “What is your working life mostly about?” “Trouble”, she said. Later, when I thought of that little encounter, I wished I could have pursued that short conversation. “Trouble...” Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/ah-trouble-free-life Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:18:08 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/prayer/tragic-times World history has probably recorded more bad times than good times, more suffering than well-being… Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/prayer/tragic-times Mon, 21 Sep 2015 20:26:31 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/never-quite-sure “People around me in church…they are probably OK with the Lord…“   ‘And you think you are not?’ “I don’t really know…sometimes in church, when we sing these special hymns, yes, then I feel something...” ‘But through the week, you don’t?’ Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/never-quite-sure Tue, 15 Sep 2015 13:48:21 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/being-faithful The word ‘faithful’ has changed in meaning, it has grown in meaning. It used to just refer to faith. Someone who had a lot of faith and lived faith consistently was ‘faithful” – full of faith. Louis Tamminga https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/being-faithful Tue, 08 Sep 2015 18:16:21 +0000