The Banner

Published by the Christian Reformed Church in North America, The Banner magazine shows how the Christian faith in its Reformed expression makes sense for today's world. We hope you'll find our articles—from news to features to reviews—lively, informative, inspiring, and challenging. The Christian Reformed Church decided at Synod 2004 that the print version of The Banner will no longer be a subscription-based magazine. Instead it will be a partially subsidized publication sent to every household in the Christian Reformed Church.

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The Banner - v. 145, no. 3 - (March 2010)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Guest Editorial: Taking the Long View in Haiti and Elsewhere by Gayla Postma / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Jesus Sees You by Thea Leunk / 8 - IMHO: Studying the Belhar in Iowa by Jeffrey L. Sajdak / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: Horror, Hope, and Helping Haiti / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 - Our Need for Beauty by Nick Kroeze / 20 - Lavish Frugality by Curt Gesch / 22 - Renewing Communities Together by Ben Van Houten / 26 - Dear Reader: There Is Much to Be Done by Jerry Dykstra / 32 - On the Journey: The Journey of Grief by Jackie Venegas / 33 - Next: Our Great Treasures by Chad Vandervalk / 34 - Tuned In: A Film Fest of Importance by Ron DeBoer / 36 - Life-Giving Death by Janice Quist and Carol Rottman / 39 - True Confessions by Bob DeMoor / 47 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 145, no. 2 - (February 2010)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: Oops, I Did It Again by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Catch Me in My Scurrying by Ted Loder / 8 - IMHO: Taking the Pulse of Our Future by Steven Timmermans / 9 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: Toronto’s Institute for Christian Studies receives $4.2 million / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 - How (Not) to Talk About God by Brian Berghoef / 20 - Be Perfect? by Shiao Chong / 22 - The CRC’s Cuban Bond by Daniel R. Miller / 26 - Dear Reader: Remembering Cuba by Jerry Dykstra / 30 - Just for Kids: What About Water? by Sandy Swartzentruber / 35 - Discipleship: Changing Our Interior Landscape by Peter Slofstra and Peter Schuurmans / 36 - Tuned In: Beyond Bombs and Burqas by Jim Romahn / 36 - Who We Are Today by Beth Heinen Bell / 38 - An Invisible Disability by Joan Rinker / 40 - Reformed Matters: Decoding Our Good News by Tim Morrison / 47 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 145, no. 1 - (January 2010)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: In the Shadow of the Almighty by Bob De Moor / 7 -Catch Your Breath: Burglary in Progress by Reginald Smith / 8 - IMHO: Worship Amid the Olympics by Jonathan Nicolai-deKoning / 8 -Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: Canadian Christians look for euthanasia alternatives / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 - Reading the Bible Well by Aminah Al-Attas Bradford and Mary Hulst / 21 - On the Journey: Today I Laughed in Church by Patricia Haveman / 22 - South Asia Tsunami: Five Years Later by Stephanie Tombari / 26 - Dear Reader: Adjust! by Jerry Dykstra / 30 - Just for Kids: Interior Design by Joanne DeJonge / 32 - The Empty Nest by Karen Gorter / 34 - Relating: Dealing with Difficult People by Jennifer Parker / 35 - Poem: Hot Soup by Joe Tolkamp / 36 - Tuned In: Learning to Tweet by Jeff Klingenberg / 38 - Reformed Matters: Got Religion? by Randy Blacketer / 47 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 144, no. 12 - (December 2009)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

10 - Editorial: Sooooo Busy! by Bob De Moor / 11 - Letters to the Editor / 12 - CRC News: Plantinga steps down from seminary / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 19 - Catch Your Breath: Streak of Grace by John Lee / 20 - The Nightmare of Christmas by James C. Schaap / 25 - Parenting: Two Little Girls by Donna Huisjen / 26 - CRC Annual Ministry Report / 41 - Dear Reader: May There Be Peace by Jerry Dykstra / 44 - Tuned In: The Truth About Fiction by Phil Christman Jr / 46 - Reformed Matters: Faith Standing on Tiptoe by Dale Cooper / 47 - On the Journey: Let the Little Children Come . . . by Matt Biemers / 48 - Aceh’s Redemption by Louis M. Tamminga with Mona Sarionsong / 63 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 144, no. 11 - (November 2009)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: So What Do You Think? by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: In a Funk? by Heather Vallejos / 8 - IMHO: No Need to Adopt Belhar by Paul Hansen / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: CRC staff safe in Honduras / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 - The Suffering of Iraqi Christians by Victor and Lisa Atallah / 20 - A Silent Dwelling by Mark Mulder / 22 - Finding God Outside the Brick and Mortar by Nancy Vander Meer / 26 - Dear Reader: That They May Be One by Jerry Dykstra / 30 - Just for Kids: Thank God for Food by Christin Baker / 32 - Gratitude in Tough Times by Elizabeth Vander Haagen / 35 - Reformed Matters: Always Reforming by Dale Cooper / 36 - Tuned In: Day at the Museum by Ron DeBoer / 47 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 144, no. 10 - (October 2009)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: Thanks, Guys! by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Abstract Thinking by Jennifer Parker / 8 - IMHO: Will More Words Really Help? by George VanderWeit / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: Convention coverage / 18 - Was the Reformation Necessary? by Ronald J. Feenstra / 23 - Next: Wooden Pews to Altar Calls and Back Again by Christina Crook / 24 - 30 Years of Fighting Hunger by Kristen deRoo VanderBerg / 28 - Dear Reader: Planting for the Future by Jerry Dykstra / 30 - The Promise of God’s Guidance by Phil Reinders / 32 - Just for Kids: Plants on Your Plate by Joanne De Jonge / 34 - Tuned In: Payback and Paying Back by Otto Selles / 36 - Discipleship: Bicycle Jesus by Peter Schuurman / 37 - On the Journey: Nothing to Fear by Cheryl Kroll / 38 - Reformed Matters: John Calvin’s Big Dream by Dale Cooper / 47 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 144, no. 9 - (September 2009)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: So What Is The Banner? by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Songs in the Night, Songs in the Day by Sonya VanderVeen Feddema / 8 - IMHO: A Note from Afghanistan by Mark Hamstra / 9 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News / 16 - World News / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 - Oil, Planks, Tax Collectors, and Tolerance by Otto Selles / 21 - Next: Proud to Be CRC by Aaron Vriesman / 22 - Flourishing in the Electronic Age by Duane Kelderman / 26 - Dear Reader: The Network by Jerry Dykstra / 30 - Just for Kids: Birthdays in Many Ways by Christin Baker / 32 - Leadership: Who Leads Your Church? by Norm Thomasma and Jeanne Kallemeyn 34 - Tuned In: “God Is Love, Gaius” by Lloyd Rang / 36 - Living Room Compassion by Karen Norris / 38 - Reformed Matters: Jesus Christ’s Vital Society by Dale Cooper / 47 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 144, no. 8 - (August 2009)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: Jesus Will Figure It Out by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Breathing Room by Joyce Kane / 8 - IMHO: Cultural Sensitivity by Beth Guikema-Bode / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: Digging deeper in the oil sands / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 Merciful Living by Jim Kok / 21 - Parenting: 31 Ways to Pray for Your Children by Bob Hostetler / 22 - Imagining a New Future by Leonard Vander Zee / 26 - Dear Reader: We Are Making Progress by Jerry Dykstra / 30 - Just for Kids: More than Meets the Eye by Joanne DeJonge / 32 - Tuned In: Back to School by Wayne Brouwer / 34 - Augustine’s Great Comeback by Stephen W. Martin / 37 - Reformed Matters: A Sort of Perpetual Cross by Dale Cooper / 38 - The New Calvinism by Al Hoksbergen / 47 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 144, no. 7 - (July 2009)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: More Bounce in Our Step by Bob De Moor / 8 - Candidates for Ministry 2009 / 13 - Catch Your Breath: Soul Care by Regina Riley / 14 - Imagination Required by Syd Hielema / 17 - Parenting: Driving Lessons by Kristy Quist / 18 - Just for Kids: Summer Boredom-Busters by Sandy Swartzentruber / 20 - That Dreaded “E-Word” by Brian and Carmen Los / 23 - Frequently Asked Questions / 24 - Tuned In: Gifts for the Birthday Boy by Wayne Brouwer / 26 - Next: Synod Through My Eyes by Katie Ritsema-Roelofs / 27 - Reformed Matters: Not Alone by Dale Cooper / 28 - Multiethnic Conference: Diversity Doesn’t Come Easily by Gayla R. Postma and Delia Caderno / 30 - Synod In Our View: Stretching for Diversity and Unity Even When It Hurts by Gayla R. Postma / 32 - Synod 2009 Proposes Adopting the Belhar by Dan Postma / 34 - Synod Requests Steps to Increase Diversity in CRC Leadership by Roxanne Van Farowe / 48 - Snapshots / 50 - Answers to Prayer in the Philippines by Kristen deRoo VanderBerg / 54 - Dear Reader: A Church of Living Color by Jerry Dykstra / 63 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 144, no. 6 - (June 2009)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: Shoes by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Prince of the Mound by James Pecquet / 8 - IMHO: A Letter to Rev. Veenema by John Vaandering / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: What to watch for at Synod 2009 / 18 - Bright Hope for Tomorrow by Meg Jenista and Ken Baker / 22 - Jubilee Fellows Explore Call to Ministry by Myrna Anderson / 23 - Frequently Asked Questions / 28 - Dear Reader: Why Hold Synod? by Jerry Dykstra / 32 - Just for Kids: Common Scents by Joanne DeJonge / 34 - The Presence of Christ in a War Zone by Gordon Terpstra / 36 - Tuned In: Stories for Summer Days by Gary D. Schmidt / 39 - Reformed Matters: Piety and Religion by Dale Cooper / 40 - Reflection for Independence Day by Bryan Berghoef / 47 Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 144, no. 5 - (May 2009)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: We Can Be Sure and Wrong, Right? by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Home Free by Peter Schuurman / 8 - IMHO: How We Fail to Create Safe Churches by Mary Vander Vennen / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: A glimpse into the CRC’s first prison congregation / 16 - World News: Economic decline forces congregations to make tough decisions / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 - A Second Blessing? by Rob Braun / 20 - Just for Kids: The Big Night Mystery by Sandy Swartzentruber / 22 - Ministry with Muslims: A New Approach by Chris Meehan / 26 - Dear Reader by Jerry Dykstra / 30 - Tuned In: Who Owns a Story? by Wayne Brouwer / 32 - Light for a Dark Path by Tony Meyer / 37 - Leadership: Our Heart Challenge by Angela Taylor Perry / 38 - Next: Mother’s Day in a Three-Way Mirror by Andrea Visser-Bult / 39 - Reformed Matters: The Sorry Spectacle of Our Foulness by Dale Cooper / 47 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 144, no. 4 - (April 2009)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: Who Teaches the Profs? by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Holy Failure by Debra Rienstra / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 8 - IMHO: Fear Not the Teenagers by Brent Lamberts / 10 - CRC News: Going the extra (100) miles in New Mexico / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 - Comforted in the Darkness by Brian Walsh / 20 - Tuned In: Books on the Big Screen by Jennifer Parker / 22 - Working Together by Ben Van Houten / 26 - Dear Reader: Signs of God’s Faithfulness by Jerry Dykstra / 30 - Just for Kids: The Most Amazing Control Room in the Universe by Sigmund Brouwer / 32 - Does Your Church Have the Right to Exist? by Allen Likkel and Jul Medenblik / 35 - Reformed Matters: How Carefully God Watches by Dale Cooper / 36 - Discipleship: Mentoring Blessings by Gayla Postma / 38 - Next: The Not-so Cloistered Walk by Benjamin Fox / 47 - Punch Lines 6 - Editorial: Who Teaches the Profs? by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Holy Failure by Debra Rienstra / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 8 - IMHO: Fear Not the Teenagers by Brent Lamberts / 10 - CRC News: Going the extra (100) miles in New Mexico / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 - Comforted in the Darkness by Brian Walsh / 20 - Tuned In: Books on the Big Screen by Jennifer Parker / 22 - Working Together by Ben Van Houten / 26 - Dear Reader: Signs of God’s Faithfulness by Jerry Dykstra / 30 - Just for Kids: The Most Amazing Control Room in the Universe by Sigmund Brouwer / 32 - Does Your Church Have the Right to Exist? by Allen Likkel and Jul Medenblik / 35 - Reformed Matters: How Carefully God Watches by Dale Cooper / 36 - Discipleship: Mentoring Blessings by Gayla Postma / 38 - Next: The Not-so Cloistered Walk by Benjamin Fox / 47 - Punch Lines
The Banner - v. 144, no. 3 - (March 2009)

Christian Reformed Church in North America

6 - Editorial: What’s to Discuss? by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Family Archaeology by Michael Dumez / 8 - IMHO: Where Is My Son Welcome? by Michael Veenema / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: CRC Ministries and Employees Feel Budget Pinch / 16 - World News: Two Canadians Arrested on Polygamy Charges / 17 - Parenting: Re-Emerging Adults by Jenny and Joshua De Groot / 20 - Tuned In: A Multicultural Journey by Wayne Brouwer / 22 - Transformation by Mariano Avila III / 26 - Dear Reader: Reflect, Focus, Prune by Jerry Dykstra / 30 - Just for Kids: Silent Sounds by Joanne De Jonge / 32 - Can a Christian Really Be a Psychologist? by Sergio da Silva / 34 - Just Doing Our Duty by Leonard J. Vander Zee / 37 - Slice of Life: The Singer of Strasbourg by Laurie Brose Cutter / 38 - Frequently Asked Questions / 39 - Reformed Matters: This Most Beautiful Theater by Dale Cooper / 47 - Punch Lines