Emilia Wishing

09/15/2026

Emilia’s thoughts are saturated with wishes. She wishes she had her own bed instead of having to share one with her sister; that she could eat sugary cereal for breakfast instead of the toasted tortillas her mama makes; that her family had a new car instead of the clunky old truck they get around in

Should Christians be Nationalists?

09/14/2026

Reformed denominations are buzzing with controversy about Christian nationalism. Synod 2026 called for a study committee to consider the issue. Part of the problem is that the term “Christian nationalism” means very different things to different people. It might be helpful to consider whether any fo

I Am Growing Resentful of My Spouse Because I Feel Like I’m Doing Everything. What Do I Do?

09/14/2026

I am growing resentful of my spouse because I feel like I am doing everything alone, and it’s not getting better. What do I do?I see this often in my clinical work. I’ll give an example using the man as the “lazy spouse,” but wives can fill that role too: A couple has difficulty negotiating their ro

We Begin on Our Knees

09/14/2026

“The hard part is now. The hard part is prayer,” said my friend, referring to the CRC’s 10-year plan. He shared how pumped he was after Synod’s decision that the CRC would multiply disciples. He spoke to his men’s group. And to the council. And an education team. Folks were polite—but mostly the big

Searching for Stray Sheep

09/14/2026

I was pleasantly surprised to see John at church one Sunday. I caught up with him just before he left the building. “So good to see you here this morning, John!” He looked at me with a cynical grin and said, “Yeah! And the church is still standing,” as he scooted out the door.Later in the week I sto

Maps and Perspectives

09/14/2026

I wonder if you, like me, have wondered about airplane flight paths. When I look at a map online, the routes always appear curved.It doesn’t seem to make sense that a flight from Chicago to Japan would cross over part of Alaska. On a flat map, the most direct route looks like a straight line across

Just Like We All Do

09/14/2026

Monday. 7:15 a.m. The November air was brisk, but pleasant.Up ahead, two figures. A man. A woman. Each carrying black plastic bags.A barrage of yelling pummeled the morning air. Spewed words I couldn’t hear but recognized as hateful, angry, demeaning—in a word, abusive.I kept my distance—watching an

Mixed Media Roundup: September/October 2026

09/14/2026

Acoustic Worship SessionsBy Clark BeckhamReviewed by Paul DelgerSinger, songwriter, and American Idol alum (season 14) Clark Beckham puts his spin on six modern worship tunes with his project, “Acoustic Worship Sessions.”“I think the elements of this record have always been in me, I just didn't know

The Bananer: The Parody that Rocked the Church

09/14/2026

Any celebration of The Banner’s birthday has to include a story about The Bananer, even though it is 56 years old and appeared when the magazine had only recently turned 100. It’s hard to imagine now that a spoof of The Banner would cause threats of university expulsion, even excommunication, for it

Comfort in Law and Prayer

09/14/2026

We now turn to the last section of the Heidelberg Catechism: gratitude. The HC states that the way we show our thankfulness to God for his grace is by doing good works (Q&A 86). The motivation for thankfulness is generated in believers by the Holy Spirit. The outward demonstration of our thankfulnes

The Weight of a Dollar

09/14/2026

The music changes. You have already crossed off three hymns in the bulletin, counted the steps leading to the pulpit, and imagined what it would feel like to leap from each one—higher, higher. Then suddenly, there it is.The collection plate lands in your lap.Heavy.On your spindly legs, it feels as e

Unfolding Redemption: The Heart of the Gospel in the Story of Old Testament History

09/11/2026

In this readily accessible, detailed, and thought-provoking‎ exploration of the intimate connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament, author Ian Vaillancourt invites readers to peruse an aerial view, “a big-picture understanding of the Old Testament story and some of its links to Chri

Death of a Pastor’s Wife

09/11/2026

Mica Miller was a woman of faith who told her social media followers over and over how much God loved them. It is Mica’s unwavering belief in God and her desire to serve him that saves this three-episode documentary from being just another true crime series.“There’s an incredible danger in unmet nee

Strangers in the Province of Joy: Practicing Radical Hospitality on the U.S.-Mexico Border

09/11/2026

I’ve never started an organization, but I imagine most people come up with a plan before they have somewhere to work from. Not Ruben Garcia and the other young adults who got together in an abandoned El Paso building belonging to the Catholic Church, which the local bishop loaned to them for free.At

Rainstorms and What's Next

09/11/2026

As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner.Since I was a

Illinois Church Pairs Ministry and Market

09/11/2026

On a visit to Elmhurst (Ill.) Christian Reformed Church on a summer or fall Wednesday morning, you’re likely to hear peals of laughter, smell baked goods from 10 different vendors, see busloads of community members, and possibly come into contact with one or more of Elmhurst’s Farmer’s Market’s 2,50

From Survival to Purpose: How Elizabeth Bol Found a Way Forward

09/09/2026

A year ago, Elizabeth Bol was surviving.She was navigating a difficult divorce while recovering from addiction and alcoholism. Though she had a job, it just covered the bills. “I was just working to survive,” recalled Bol. “I felt stuck.”One day, sitting outside Safe Haven Ministries—where she was r

Genealogy Theology: Exploring Family Lines and Spiritual Legacies

09/08/2026

Author Frank G. Honeycutt’s fascinating exploration of the connection between genealogy and theology takes readers into the lives of two of his ancestors and how their circumstances and actions influenced the person he became.In 1908, Honeycutt’s great-grandfather Sheriff Frank Honeycutt of Concord,

Coffee, Rejoicing, and Weeping

09/08/2026

As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner.As an Indigen

Breath

09/07/2026

When I was young, I had asthma. During an asthma attack, my lungs got tight and heavy, and my throat felt like it was closing in on itself. You don’t realize how much you love breathing until you become conscious of the effort a single inhale can take. Though I was filled with panic as my lungs burn