Write your own blog post to share your ministry experience with others.
One of my all-time favourite songs—Christmas or other times—is “Ere zij God”/”Glory to God” (Psalter Hymnal #214). We’ll surely be singing it again during Christmas Day worship, perhaps other times as well. I had never heard this song until we moved to Canada from Venezuela in 1986. Now, though, to take a seriously comical (or comically serious) turn, I’ll relate the story of “Ere zij God” that I recently heard from the spouse of a second-generation Canadian of Dutch heritage.
Journalist Ian Brown applied his skills to plumb the depths of raising a son, Walker, who has severe disabilities resulting from a genetic disorder, CFC. In his quest for meaning, among others he seeks out wisdom from Buddhism, from a shaman at a native healing center, and from Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche communities. As a Christian, I can’t endorse all of his conclusions, but reading about his journey helped to enlighten my own path. It’s something that some of us Calvinists call “common grace.”
I feel sorry for people who don’t have the privilege of raising a child who has a disability
Take a deep breath, a good look at your family and friends, and dive right in to emerge some time during the first week of January.
With American Thanksgiving only a few days away, I’m counting my blessings and you’re on the list! Each week you...
On November 13, unbeknownst to the denizens of the shops and stores, members of Chorus Niagara scattered themselves about the Food Court of the Seaway Mall in Welland, Ontario. Several members of CRCs in St. Catharines sing in this chorus. Some crafty (and I hope legal) camera and sound work captured this marvelous happening. This is not Muzak! It is my early and free (just like the Gospel!!) Christmas gift to Networkers.
Rumors are necessary for church life. Fact is, we could never keep up with our friends and neighbors in church if someone else did not share information about them. .... Still...
I'm sure at some point various titles of blog posts or articles on different networks have piqued your curiosity and caused you to click to read the full post; it has for me. Even though this Network focuses on your church's website and online presence there are some posts on different networks that involve areas relevant here. I'd like to point out several different posts that would be valuable for you to read, or would be great areas for you to provide your insight and experience.
Jesus said, "I am among you as one who serves." The word he uses is the word for deacon. This is the pattern of Jesus' ministry. The attitude is as important as the behavior.
Whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving Day this week I ask you, for what are you thankful spiritually?
How many of us preachers feel overworked, stressed out? (I have never complained about being underpaid, though some colleagues are. In fact, I often say, “You can’t pay me enough for what I do, but I’m not complaining, because this pastoring business is more than a job; it’s a vocatio.”)
I am in the midst of a tour on the West Coast which aims to resource the churches, schools and mission leaders in this area. Yesterday, we were in Portland, Oregon at Park Lane CRC. Pastors and others from the area who are interested in missions
We’re quickly approaching the advent season when we celebrate Jesus “moving into the neighborhood.” These weeks would be a great time for small groups to find ways to be sent like Jesus into the neighborhoods GoGGod
Do you expect your website visitors to know how to do Boolean searches? What about expecting them to search your site using the built-in search tool of your CMS? To help visitors search your site, you can use the power of the big search engines (Google and Bing) to provide custom search boxes for your site.
Grace demands change; it holds us accountable. How do we do that with fellow humans -- hold this balance between undeserved but conditional? "Grace is undeserved caring that intercepts destructive behavior".
We've been busy adding new features. Well, more accurately, Chris - our web developer - has been busy adding new features.Maybe you've imagined a team of programmers behind the scenes making this Network website happen. Nope. It's just Chris working one day per week for The Network. But he's getting a lot done in that one day.
Between the gifts, the Grinch, and the jolly elves, it’s tough for Christian parents to help kids focus on the true reason we celebrate: heaven’s come down to earth! Here are some helpful ideas you can pass on to families.
As David Letterman used to say: “From the home office in Grand Rapids, Michigan; here is tonight’s top ten list.” Well The Network has expanded our own “Top 10” section to now display:From the Community (that’s all of you!)
The battle is won or lost at the level of imagination. There’s power in imagination. The Holy Spirit’s power is displayed and released at the level of imagination. What do you imagine when you think of small groups that develop...
"We are all missionaries and our mission field is right out that door." I must confess some mixed feelings about that.
A short excerpt from Tracy Young's book How Do I Make It Right?
Is Reformation Day a thing of the past that doesn’t relate to those who haven’t grown up in the “Dutch church”? Is it something that we should re-energize or let fade away? If we stop celebrating this defining moment of the Reformation do we risk losing our historical roots which help ground us theologically? What do you think?
Out of our shepherd’s heart we will begin to intersect our lives with the lives of those we’re leading even when it’s messy and dirty. Only then will we begin to smell like the sheep we lead.
