Yet in My Flesh 38. Gender Justice and Reconciliation. June Stewardship of Technology. What s a Pastor to Do?

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1 June Yet in My Flesh 38 Stewardship of Technology 22 Gender Justice and Reconciliation 32 What s a Pastor to Do?

2 A Bible for Those Who Can t Read The Solar Talking Bible Easy to use Powerful speaker Solar powered Alone and abandoned, Sangam s faith helps her persevere. When she would not turn from worshipping Jesus, Sangam was beaten and threatened by her husband and his family. Sixteen days after giving birth to her second child, her husband left her and put the children in an orphanage so they would not become Christians. Sangam was devastated. Ostracized by her community, she struggled for years. Being unable to read, her only comfort was what she learned in church on Sundays. God answered Sangam s prayer when she was given a Talking Bible. Having access to God s Word has removed the desperation and loneliness she once experienced and has given her promise for the future. She hopes to one day be reunited with her children and introduce them to Jesus Christ through her Talking Bible. Being able to listen to God s Word has changed everything, she said. Will you help us place more Talking Bibles with those struggling with persecution and in despair? Enhancing Trust Please give online at Accredited for special offerings Talking Bibles International 419 East Grand Avenue, Escondido, CA Telephone: BIBLE ( ) or

3 Synod 2015 of the Christian Reformed Church will take place June on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. Synod is an annual gathering of ministers and elders from every classis (region) of the Christian Reformed Church. The tasks of synod include responsibility for creeds, the Church Order, liturgical forms, hymnals, principles of worship, and moral/ethical positions. It also provides general oversight for ministries that are undertaken jointly by CRC churches. Synod 2015 will address topics ranging from church structure and the roles of elders and deacons to how the church responds to issues such as same-sex marriage, new ways of doing missions, the role of The Banner, and ways to help congregations engage in life-long discipleship. You can find the Agenda for Synod and other related documents online at crcna.org/synod. Printed copies of the agenda have been sent to each church. For News Before and during synod, subscribe to Synod News and the CRC News weekly (crcna.org/newsand-views/crcnews). Or follow the CRCNA on Facebook or on Twitter (#crcsynod). Want to discuss the matters coming before Synod 2015? Join the conversation in the Synod section of The Network (network.crcna.org/ synod). If you have questions, please us at or call us at crcna.org/synod

4 COURAGE to think deeply to act justly to live fully I m a strong believer that the food we eat affects our health. [My Calvin education] has allowed me to realize that I can t change everything. But I can make a small difference and do little things to make things a little bit better if not great. Briella Cumings 15, public health major You want to change the world. And you will. At Calvin, you ll learn to work collaboratively with students and professors toward small, meaningful changes that impact big issues. Improve water filtration techniques for water in Kenya. Develop cancer therapy drugs that make treatment easier for patients. Learn to make lifestyle choices that demonstrate one of your highest callings to love your neighbor as yourself, here and around the world. Explore what it means to think deeply, act justly and live fully at Calvin College admits students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin.

5 Volume 150 Number Features 18 Yet in My Flesh The familiar solo got him thinking about time God s time and eternity. by James Calvin Schaap 32 Unequally Yoked: What s a Pastor to Do? STUDY QUESTIONS ONLINE Should Christian pastors solemnize marriages of couples who are unequally yoked? by Henry Numan Departments Editorial: Wish You Were Here by Bob De Moor 6 I wish you could peek over my shoulder and see those who carry out our denominational work. Catch Your Breath: Psalms in the Night by Didy Prinzen 7 During long and sleepless nights, I rediscovered a treasure. July-August issue Synod 2015 Synod 2015 will be held on June at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. Look for updated articles at thebanner. org, Facebook (TheBanner magazine) and Twitter (@crc banner) throughout synod. You can also follow synod via webcast and synod news office press releases, all of which can be accessed via the Synod 2015 website (crcna.org/synod). The July/August print issue will arrive in your mailbox a little later than usual so we can cover synod right up to the closing doxology. Our website will have fresh content posted throughout the summer. IMHO: He s Right Here by Monica Kronemeyer deregt 8 What would happen if we included our children in the entire worship service instead of sending them out for Sunday school? Letters to the Editor 8 News: World Renew-U.S. Gets New Director 10 Frequently Asked Questions 21 Does climate change have anything to do with the church? Just for Kids: Summer Beach Fun by Christin Baker 30 Let s go to the beach! Tuned In: Epic Summer Reads 34 Whether you are traveling far or staying close to home, these books will take you on a journey. Discipleship: Jump In by Linda Lugtigheid 37 God invites us to be part of his kingdom community. Reformed Matters: Stewardship of Technology by Kory Plockmeyer 38 STUDY QUESTIONS ONLINE Technology is a gift to be used in the service of God s kingdom. Punch Lines 47 Together doing more Gender Justice and Reconciliation by Adele Konyndyk 22 Cultural traditions associated with gender play a large role in the decisions parents make about their children. The View from Here: Do You Read the YALT Blog? by Steven Timmermans 26 June 2015 THE BANNER 5

6 Editorial Wish You Were Here The Magazine of the Christian Reformed Church My work with The Banner is drawing to a close at the end of August. I hope to reserve my last editorial (July/August issue) for what may pop at Synod So let me take this opportunity to celebrate and thank from the bottom of my heart my colleagues, with whom I have had the privilege of working on the magazine, and, before that, for eight years with Faith Alive Christian Resources. I include the many, many dedicated folks from all the denominational agencies, ministries, boards, and committees with whom I have visioned, prayed, contemplated, planned, collaborated, negotiated, commiserated, and, yes, sometimes vituperated. I thank God for all of them. They have taught me so much and enriched and broadened my life s journey in so many meaningful ways. It has been a real joy working with them in denominational ministry. I wish you were here, interacting physically or virtually, on a daily basis, with the staff and volunteers who lead and carry out our denominational work. Had you been able these years to peek over my shoulder, you would be amazed at the high level of dedication, giftedness, and servanthood shown by these folks. Their kindness. Their genuine desire to work together. Their enthusiasm. Their professionalism. And, most of all, their love for Jesus. I owe you, faithful CRC member, my thanks as well. Not only for your encouragement, advice, admonition, ideas, and article contributions, but also for your faithful financial giving that allows all these good folks to contribute so much to God s mission in this world. We re a tiny denomination, but God s Spirit has blessed us with a very big heart and a significant reach that embraces our planet. I also wish you were here to see the way our denominational folks work together so well not in spite of, but because of, their diversity. No doubt we have a ways to go to be as inclusive as God wants us to be. Nevertheless, on a regular basis I have enjoyed the privilege of rubbing shoulders with African Americans and Dutch immigrants, Republicans and Democrats, progressives and conservatives, Yanks and Canucks, old earth and young earth creationists, the wealthy and the poor, the healthy and the hurting. God s Spirit has endowed them all with sincerity, maturity, respect, and love. If we will follow their example, our congregations will be far better places. So to my colleagues here at The Banner, past and present, and the many with whom we collaborate, thanks so very, very much for your dedicated service. You rock! And to all with whom I ve crossed paths at the denom level, bless you for your work. It s stellar. And to you, dear reader, I extend my heartfelt thanks. You have made me more confident than ever that by speaking the truth in love, we [will indeed] grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body s growth in building itself up in love (Eph. 4:15-16, NRSV). God bless you all. n We re a tiny denomination, but God s Spirit has blessed us with a very big heart and a significant reach that embraces our planet. Bob De Moor is editor of The Banner and pastor of preaching and administration for West End CRC, Edmonton, Alberta. Bob De Moor Editor Judith Claire Hardy Associate Editor Gayla R. Postma News Editor Henry Hess Editor, Together Doing More Kristy Quist Tuned In Editor Dean R. Heetderks Art Director Pete Euwema Graphic Design Frank Gutbrod Graphic Design Contact Us th Street SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan Address Changes and Subscriptions or visit our website at Classified Advertising classifieds@thebanner.org Display Advertising ads@crcna.org Editorial editorial@thebanner.org News news@thebanner.org Published monthly (except August). Periodicals postage paid at Grand Rapids, Mich. Postmaster, send address changes to: The Banner, th Street SE, Grand Rapids MI Canadian publications mail agreement # Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: The Banner, 3475 Mainway, PO Box 5070, STN LCD 1, Burlington ON L7R 3Y8. Copyright 2015, Christian Reformed Church in North America. Printed in U.S.A. The Banner (ISSN ). Vol. 150, No. 06, Member of Associated Church Press and Evangelical Press Association. 6 THE BANNER June