When Jesus was born, angels sang: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). It’s unfortunate that the King James version—“good will toward men”—has become the standard wording, especially at Christmastime. It can create the impression that
To send letters to the editor, please see our guidelines at thebanner.org/letters.Slippery SlopeAfter receiving the July-August 2024 Banner, I read its content until I got to page 16 (“Resounding Words”). Then I quit, not wanting to read once more how Synod 2024 threw away Reformed principles. Then
I am an elderly Christian who occasionally finds himself in discussions about burial plans. When I share that my remains will be donated for medical research, some people react negatively. Please comment.Thank you for donating your remains. Donated bodies are essential to medical training and resear
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.The air rushe
Should I do more school?We often see the purpose of school as preparing us for a particular job. Yet good education should also prepare you with other life skills, like engaging honestly and graciously with people with whom we disagree, participating in our church and neighborhood, or even being mor
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.The Christian
Can we really see God at work?It’s a common question these days, especially in missional circles, and I suspect that you, like many others, want to see God at work—even long to—but the possibility often seems quite elusive. Can we really see God at work?I believe we can, because I believe the Spirit
She stood me up. I didn’t get too worked up about it, because it meant I would have some free time to do things I thoroughly enjoy. She had insisted we meet at Agua Caliente Park at 9 a.m., and it was almost an hour after that. She wasn’t responding to texts, so I just sat in the park and enjoyed th
Dusk gloomed the back of the plaza where I was walking early one morning. Against the horizon, the shapes of several trees loomed dark, their branches barren and brittle due to winter rest and possibly disease. Never a pretty sight, no matter the season, these trees seemed slated for an appointment
My favorite book by the late Timothy Keller is The Prodigal God (2008). In it, Keller dives into the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), or as Keller calls it, the parable of the two lost sons. For Keller, both the younger brother and the elder brother in Jesus’ parable are lost, but in dif
Occasionally I cannot honestly sing all the words of a song. With “Amazing Grace,” for example, I would be lying if I sang “How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.” I did not have a Damascus Road experience. What should I do when I cannot honestly sing some lines in church?One
My wife and I adopted an infant daughter more than 50 years ago. A couple of years later, we adopted another. They have brought great joy into our lives and are wonderful, caring wives and mothers.When she was quite young, our oldest daughter heard a mention of abortion during a newscast and asked m
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.Multiple lame
All my life I have loved to sing: on my own, when leading worship, and in choirs. When I joined a youth choir as a teen, I was disappointed to hear I had been assigned to the alto section. With time, I learned to love this section. I did my best to blend my voice with those around me, and I loved th
One of the greatest gifts I inherited from the women in my family was a love of needlecrafts. My mother and grandmothers created beautiful works of art and functional everyday items using simple raw materials such as yarn, fabric, beads, and embroidery floss. When I was a young child on summer sleep
To send letters to the editor, please see our guidelines at thebanner.org/letters.Disciplinary MeasuresIn The Banner article “Synod 2024 Declared Disciplinary Measures for Those ‘In Protest’,” it says, “Synod made this decision, recognizing ... ‘There is no category in Church Order for members, offi
Should we connect with a former daughter-in-law for the sake of our grandkids when our son would feel betrayed by our doing so?It can be difficult to know how to manage relationships after a divorce. It is understandable to want to preserve relationships, especially for the sake of being involved in
Those of us living near the Great Lakes often hear the term “lake effect” or “lake-effect snow.” The lakes have a huge effect on the weather. They can temper storms or make them worse.To understand how the lakes affect weather, it’s important to know that heat means vibration. The faster something v
Am I Morally Obligated to Vote?It is election season in the United States. Many Christians know whom they are going to vote for. Others feel torn, viewing the choice as between the lesser of two evils. And some simply want to sit the election out. Yet we are constantly told that voting is our civic
In June, I attended a presentation by Colin Watson, the former executive director of the Christian Reformed Church in North America and the first graduate of the D.Min. program at Calvin Theological Seminary. His presentation, part of the Theory and Practice: Doctorate of Ministry discussion series,