> Photo credit: Glenda Mathes for Christian RenewalThe number of overtures related to federative unity at Synod Schererville 2007 indicated the level of concern among the churches. If the adoption and speedy implementation of URCNA unity committees was viewed as running to embrace the Canadian Reformed Churches with open arms, Synod Schererville's actions could be … Continue reading >Synod: Federative Unity

>(Photo and information credit: Glenda Mathes and Christian Renewal) Rev. Paul Murphy, URCNA church planter in New York City, and Rev. Phil Grotenhuis, church planter in Springfield, MO, enjoy a lighter moment during a break in Synod actionMost of the information contained in these Synod posts, as well as other articles and pictures, will be … Continue reading >Synod: Membership

>(Photo and information credit: Glenda Mathes and Christian Renewal) Delegates to Synod Schererville 2007 Since justification is a hot-button issue, I'll begin my posts on specific Synod topics with it. Much of what is written here will appear in the August issue of Christian Renewal, along with several other articles detailing the actions of Synod … Continue reading >Synod: Justification

>(Photo and information credit: Glenda Mathes and Christian Renewal) Rev. Karlo Janssen (right), fraternal delegate from the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands(liberated) visits with delegates during a coffee break at Synod 2007I had promised my many readers more news from the floor of Synod, but I discovered that I had little time for writing or … Continue reading >Synod: Personal Observations

>Although I've written articles for Christian Renewal for six and a half years and gave up a full time position to devote more time to writing five and a half years ago, I had never met Christian Renewal's editor, John Van Dyk.On the first day of Synod last week, we finally met.I had hung around … Continue reading >Historic Moment

>I'm sitting in the chapel at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL, for Synod 2007 of the URCNA.Synod began with registration on Monday afternoon and a worship service in the evening. Between the two, delegates were drenched in a sudden, torrential downpour. Volunteers of the organizing church ran between buildings, escorting delegates under wide … Continue reading >Synod

>I'd like to beless technically challenged, and more technicallyliterate.As I wrote in my last post, my old IBM ThinkPad has given up its electronic ghost. I get error messages that look like they're from the 80s with a funny little bird fluttering its wings instead of a blinking cursor.What I'd like is a sleek Sony, … Continue reading >Literacy

>For some time, I've been thinking that my old IBM laptop was on its last diode. It had been starting sporadically; sometimes it would boot up and sometimes it wouldn't.Last week we spent some time comparing different models at various big box stores. And we went back to one store on Saturday (after we got … Continue reading >The Day the Laptop Died

>I learned a long time ago that I am more productive in my writing when I have an assignment or have to meet a deadline. Since freelance writing consists primarily of deadlines, that works out well. Most of my work is finished just prior to deadline. I find, however, that I often fail to carve … Continue reading >Pantoum

>Here's something to consider: My last entry, about waiting on the Lord, was posted on the morning of June 5. That day's mail, which arrived in the early afternoon, contained the answer to our prayers--an answer that far surpassed the most positive of our imagined outcomes. Coincidence?I recently spoke with Norlan De Groot, who is … Continue reading >Coincidence Redux