Well-known artist Makoto Fujimura recommends on the Christianity Today site his top five books on creativity. If you click on that last hyperlink, you'll see his five are: The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World by Lewis Hyde On Beauty and Being Just by Elaine Scarry Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L'Engle … Continue reading Makoto Fujimura’s recommendations on creativity
Glorying in God’s Grace – book review
The Glory of Grace: The Story of the Canons of Dort by William Boekestein; illustrated by Evan Hughes © 2012 by William Boekestein, Reformation Heritage Books: Grand Rapids, MI, 30 pp. Readers of the third volume in the Boekestein/Hughes trilogy of children’s books will find themselves glorying in God’s grace. The collaborative … Continue reading Glorying in God’s Grace – book review
Impatience inversion, Psalm 40
Many laments begin with a cry to God, but end with resting in him and waiting on his will. Psalm 40 reverses that usual order. It begins with patient rest and ends with an impatient plea. TEASER: This psalm concludes with another striking aspect, which I'll write about at the end of this post. Time … Continue reading Impatience inversion, Psalm 40
Why call it Good Friday?
When I was little, I wondered why we called such a somber day, with a worship service that seemed like a funeral, Good Friday. It didn't seem like a particularly good or happy day. As I grew, I increasingly realized the benefits of Christ's death and why remembering his suffering was good for us. Today's devotions from the Book … Continue reading Why call it Good Friday?
Maundy Thursday thoughts
What is Maundy Thursday anyway? Having grown up in a tradition that observed Good Friday, but not the prior Thursday, I've always been a bit unsure. That fount of internet knowledge, Wikipedia, tells me that Maundy Thursday is variously known by different Christian fellowships as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday … Continue reading Maundy Thursday thoughts
Retreat reflections: Strength in weakness
Last weekend I spoke to about 65 women during a retreat hosted by Wellsburg United Reformed Church at Pine Lake Christian Camp near Eldora, IA. It was wonderful to greet old friends and meet new ones in a scenic and secluded setting, drawing closer to each other and to God. Lisa Nuiver enhanced the experience … Continue reading Retreat reflections: Strength in weakness
Northern Ontario’s URC connection
Congregations of some United Reformed Churches may feel as if they’re rather isolated from other URCs, but few churches are more distant from other congregations in the federation than the United Reformed Church of Thunder Bay, ON. Even though the church is located in Ontario, the Thunder Bay congregation is part of Classis Western Canada … Continue reading Northern Ontario’s URC connection
Measuring Days, Psalm 39
A bit over two years ago, I blogged on Psalm 39 under the title, "Carpe Diem!" That Latin phrase means, "Seize the day," which still seems an apt title. But in revisiting the psalm today, I'm struck by the ESV heading, "What Is the Measure of My Days?" In this personal lament that conveys the … Continue reading Measuring Days, Psalm 39
Growing grace
Two recent blog posts worth sharing both address the idea of growing grace. Jared C. Wilson writes succinctly and precisely on his blog at The Gospel Coalition site about Cultivating a Gracious Climate in Your Church. His article is, without a doubt, the best out of my copious reading on the subject. And David Murray, over … Continue reading Growing grace
Church tour to end with return to Costa Rica
By the time Rev. Bill and Aletha Green arrived at Covenant Reformed Church in Pella, IA, on January 9, 2013, they’d visited 18 churches since October. Pella was a stop on the way to give presentations at churches in Michigan on the last leg of their furlough trip. At the beginning of February, they plan … Continue reading Church tour to end with return to Costa Rica
Glenda Faye Mathes 