>Viewing these incredible pictures from space has profoundly affected my concepts of time and reality.The sun setting in the thin blue line of earth's atmosphere.My Facebook friend, E. Calvin Beisner, alerted me to the existence of these picture by posting a link to them in a recent status line. They were taken by NASA astronaut … Continue reading >Sunrise, Sunset: Views from Space

> My last post featured the first section of my interview with James Calvin (Jim) Schaap, which appeared in the December 15, 2010, issue of Christian Renewal. That section dealt with his current work, his upcoming retirement, and his views on writing. In this second section of the interview, which will appear in the February … Continue reading >James Schaap: On the Reformed faith

> Dr. Jim Schaap is Professor of English at Dordt College and the author of more than 20 books, including novels, devotionals, collections of short stories, and a denominational history of the CRCNA. His most recently released books appeared nearly simultaneously in November of 2010: Honest to God, a volume of meditations on the Psalms, … Continue reading >James Schaap: On teaching and writing

>My Facebook friend, Pauline Trummel (whom I've never met, but whom some people say looks like me and that's why we become electronic friends), shared a link to this amazing photography of the winter solstice total lunar eclipse taken by William Castleman in Gainesville, FL.In a note below the video pane, Castleman explains what equipment … Continue reading >Lunar Eclipse and Short Days

>A Spanish speaking ministry aiming to plant a church in Chicagoland is being blessed in spite of unique challenges.“The Lord has done wonderful things through our Spanish church plant to bless a lot of Spanish speaking people in the Chicagoland area,” writes church planter Rev. Valentin Alpuche. “The greatest joy is to see people being … Continue reading >Chicago Heights Spanish Ministry: Blessing and Challenge

>The literary fingers of the Psalms feel the pulse of the human heart.I have never liked to designate a favorite scripture passage because I love too many to narrow my choice to one. And different scriptures speak more eloquently during different circumstances. But if I were forced to pick a favorite Psalm, it would be … Continue reading >Our Dwelling Place, Psalm 90

>A mission effort that initially showed much promise has been discontinued. Bellingham URC recently decided that its church planting work the Gig Harbor area of Washington would end on November 9.Although a number of reasons led to the decision, the two biggest factors were lack of finances and loss of core group members to another … Continue reading >Gig Harbor effort dies before planting