Who am I before you, God?
A poem, By Amanda Mason Who am I before you, God? Who is it that you have planned for me to be? Who am I among you? In Christ Jesus, my Lord? Who am I before you, God? If the Spirit lives in me now, Lord, Then why do I … ∞
7 things to remember as we close out the semester
As a seminary student, finishing up the semester well is not only about getting good grades, but also about preparing yourself for the future ministry. This is my last year as a student here at Calvin and i thought it might be helpful to share what I’ve gleaned as a … ∞
He descended into Hell
Last semester, I was given the opportunity to choose to write on the topic of my choosing regarding the Creeds and Confessions of the Christian church. As a result I chose to write on Christ’s descent into hell, obviously an easy one to think about. And while this is a … ∞
Power of Sacrifice.
Our dog detested being shackled. When he is bound, he will fight tooth and nail to break free. Even though the chain is piercing his neck severely, he won’t let go until he is free of the thing he despises. Oh, see how a typical dog struggles for liberty. Sir, … ∞
Jesus Revolution: A Movie Review
As a mom of four and a hybrid MDIV student, I don’t often find time to do things for myself. Many well-meaning friends, family members, doctors, and my therapist have talked to me a lot about self-care over the past year or so as more and more things seemed to … ∞
How Can I Be Useful to God?
When we consider how Jesus Christ loved us and gave Himself on the cross for us, we can’t help but love Him. We often want to do something for Him in return. So we might ask the Lord questions like: “What do You want me to do for You?” and … ∞
TULIPS, Calvin, Spring Resurrection
Spring is in the air here in Ontario, Canada, as Easter has just passed and we wind down thinking about the death and resurrection of Jesus. I find it almost fitting that it happens every year at the beginning of spring. Is this a historical coincidence or a biblical fact? … ∞
Did you just ask, “Do Christians have to be pro-life?”?
*potential trigger warning. I was asked this the other day, and almost simultaneously had an issue similar to it in a discussion for a class I’m taking here at CTS. So below is what I settled on as a working answer beyond the typical “yes, obviously” that is spit out … ∞
The Need for Faith
Romans 4:1-5 1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited … ∞
Not About a Bunny (A Poem for Children)
Easter is a time of joy, When we celebrate with all our might, But some folks get a bit confused, And think it’s all about the bunny’s might. The bunny’s cute, it’s true enough, And brings us treats and joy and stuff, But Easter’s more than just that fluff, It’s … ∞
Dear John 3
The following letter is the first installment in what will be a series of letters to JohnCalvin. These “Dear John letters” are meant to speak for those who are wrestling withwhether to stay in the Christian Reformed church or divorce the church that they’veloved. Rather than trying to solve theological … ∞
A Glimpse of God’s Heart
Recently, I was honored to have an opportunity to learn about the heart of Jesusand what we look like in His eyes. The story happened two weeks ago. As spring iscoming, my neighbors, squirrels and a chipmunk, are becoming very active in myfront yard. One sunny afternoon, I brought some … ∞
The Passion of The Christ (2004): A movie review
Over the Easter holiday, I hope to revisit this movie, The Passion of the Christ, a movie done by Mel Gibson as producer, director, and co-writer. A movie that was steeped in controversy and yet still seemed to be one of the top-grossing rated R movies of all time. The … ∞
Nehemiah is a funny book
You have two books with, basically, the same story. Ezra likely, mentions Nehemiah, and Nehemiah describes Ezra as the one reading the law. However, I’m not here to discuss the historical dating of Ezra and Nehemiah; I simply think it’s a funny… thought? This time going through the book, I … ∞
Do you love suffering?
It’s fair to say that I don’t enjoy suffering. It makes you uncomfortable, confronts andcreates insecurities you never grasped, and forces you to come to grips with the evil in the world. At times, our suffering reveals the necessity for retribution or reward. Over the last ten years (but let’s … ∞