The curse of idolatry
John Zuidema, 2 July 2009.
I usually try and watch the news at least once a day but I must say it has been a struggle this past week.
I struggled to remain interested in the silly 'utegate' affair between the Prime Minister and opposition leader. It seems that the latter didn't do his homework very well. Then, of course, we had the death of pop singer Michael Jackson. It did not only became a headline. It seemed like there was no other news for days. Virtually no mention of a bomb blast in Iraq and Pakistan that killed 76 people. Virtually no mention of the Yememia plane that crashed killing 150 people. Even the death of a "Charlie's Angel" hardly got a mention. What we did get was endless accolades about Mr Michael Jackson.
Now I must say that Mr Jackson was probably a gifted musician and talented entertainer. When I see people of all ages grieving uncontrollably and sometimes bowing down towards him, however, I cannot help but think that we have lost perspective about what really matters in life.
Four-Fold Task
brnvat, 26 June 2009.
Hi brothers,
I wonder whether the debate around the four-fold task has much at all to do with realities and facts of the four-fold task. I believe we should read the text positively as the Synod, which adopted it in 2006, did. This statement is something we have covenanted to do together to help us put the Word of God into practice in the C21st, to become “a church reforming to reach the lost in Christ”. It is guided by the Word of God and dependent on it.
1. Preaching
The criticism that preaching of the Word is not in view seems quite wrong. Please note the first three tasks (emphasis mine)
Task 1:
To call upon God for such an outpouring of his Spirit that his people will be assured of his love through his Word, seek to please the Saviour in all things, manifest the godly life and be filled with prayerful and sacrificial compassion for the lost in all the world."
Task 2:
To multiply the number of well-trained persons (ordained, non-ordained, full time, part time, voluntary) lovingly dedicated to the creation and development of such fellowships and congregations by proclaiming the gospel.
Depression
Albert Esselbrugge, 26 June 2009.
When you are feeling low and you begin questioning your faith, what do you do?
Depression is an issue which touches us all in one way or another. A friend or relative
may experience a dark time in life, or we ourselves might go through what some have
called a dark time of the soul. How do we address those times?
I remember many years ago as a teenager listening to a conversation among some
older people where it was seriously questioned whether genuine Christians could
ever experience such times. I don’t know why, but the conversation, or at least the
doubts expressed in that conversation have stayed with me. Perhaps it was because
I was still trying to figure out what I thought about depression, and when I did come
to a conclusion, I was amazed how people could think like that.
Who Am I?
Nigel Cunningham, 26 June 2009.
Who am I?
I was born on July 10, 1509, in Noyon, France.
My father was a cathedral notary and registrar to the ecclesiastical court.
My mother was the daughter of an innkeeper. She died a few years after my birth.
My father initially wanted me to be a priest, but later changed his mind, enrolling me in law studies.
My conversion and break with Catholicism were sudden, occuring around 1529. They resulted in me having to flee France, under fear of persecution.
I published the first edition of my book “Institutes of the Christian Religion” in March 1536. This book was written as a defense of my faith and a statement of the doctrinal position of the reformers.
I lived in Geneva for a good portion of the remainder of my life, although I was expelled from that city for a time and was initially unwilling to return.
I preached over 2000 sermons during my ministry in Geneva, at one point preaching every weekday of alternate weeks as well as twice on Sunday. It has been said that my Biblical teaching completely changed the way much of Europe understood the Bible, rescuing Christian thinking from Medieval superstition and ignorance.
